By Canadian Press

Lowry, Connor propel Jets to 7-6 playoff win over Avalanche

Apr 21, 2024 | 8:13 PM

WINNIPEG — Captain Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each scored twice to propel the Winnipeg Jets to a 7-6 Game 1 first-round playoff victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

It was the first time the two teams have met in the NHL playoffs.

A sold-out crowd of 15,225 white-clad fans had plenty to cheer about at the “whiteout” parties inside and outside Canada Life Centre.

Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists and Josh Morrissey registered a goal and assist. Vladislav Namestnikov also scored. Brenden Dillon, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter each added a pair of assists and Connor picked up one helper.

Connor Hellebuyck made 39 saves for the Jets, who are on a nine-game win streak.

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Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for Colorado. Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen each notched a goal and one assist. Valeri Nichushkin, Miles Wood and Casey Mittelstadt also scored. Mikko Rantanen chipped in two helpers.

The Avalanche came into the series having lost all three regular-season games against Winnipeg.

Alexander Georgiev stopped 16 of the 23 shots he faced for Colorado, which is trying to repeat its 2022 Stanley Cup-championship run. He was backed up by Arvid Holm instead of Justus Annunen, who wasn’t at the morning skate.

Winnipeg finished three points ahead of Colorado in the Central Division, and the parity showed quickly.

The first period ended in a 3-3 tie, including the teams combining to score three goals in 66 seconds.

With an 10-1 lead in shots on goal, Nichushkin fired the puck high over Hellebuyck’s blocker at 6:10 to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.

Morrissey tied it just under two minutes later when his point shot went through traffic past Georgiev.

The teams then combined for four goals in just under four minutes, including three in just over a minute.

Namestnikov got the shotfest started at 11:57 when his go-ahead goal had the crowd roaring.

Wood tied it at 14:47, MacKinnon scored at 15:05 for the 3-2 lead and then Scheifele evened it up at 15:53.

Wood’s goal marked the 1,000th playoff goal for the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques franchise.

Lowry got the only goal of the second period.

The Jets’ captain went on a two-on-one with Mason Appleton, but didn’t pass and shot the puck between Georgiev’s pads to go ahead 4-3 at 8:57.

Lowry’s second goal of the game had to be reviewed as the puck hit one post, went across and hit the other post and then slid along the goal line and hit the post again before bouncing out. It counted as crossing the line at 3:31.

Connor and Lehkonen exchanged power-play goals to make it 6-4 at 6:29, but Connor added his second marker just over two minutes later. Makar then scored an unassisted goal on the man advantage for the 7-5 score at 12:24.

Mittelstadt finished it off with a goal with 30 seconds remaining.

IN GOOD COMPANY

Mark Scheifele’s first-period goal was his 20th career playoff goal, scored in his 38th game.

Only three active players have reached that mark in fewer games. Alex Ovechkin did it in 26 games, Jake Guentzel in 32 and Connor McDavid in 36 games.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Winnipeg.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2024.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press