[dannibalcorpse]

Game 1: Winnipeg 1, Vegas 0 - Connor Hellebuyck turned away all 18 shots and Blake Wheeler’s goal with 1:27 to go in the 2nd period proved to be the difference at MTS Arena. Craig Anderson stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced, but the Winnipeg defense held the Golden Knights to only 3 shots in the third period, and more importantly controlled the puck towards the end of the game, keeping Anderson in goal instead of allowing an extra attacker. Game 2 will be at Winnipeg on Monday.

Game 2: Winnipeg 3, Vegas 2 - Josh Morrissey scored with 5:58 left in the game to finish a third period comeback for the hosting Jets. Vegas entered the third period up 2-1 behind goals from Tyler Johnson and Lars Eller, but one again, Connor Hellebuyck did not have to face much resistance in the third period. The Jets defense held the Golden Knights to 5 shots in the final frame, allowing them to come back and take the lead. In injury news, 3rd line center Alan Quine left the ice in the second period after a hard check from Dustin Byfuglien, and is expected to miss at least the next game - Coach Luke Richardson would not offer any information beyond that on Quine’s injury. The series continues Wednesday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Game 3: Vegas 5, Winnipeg 2 - Special teams was the story of the day, as a T.J. Brodie power play goal paired with shorthanded goals from Lars Eller & Kevin Shattenkirk to propel Vegas to their first playoff win in franchise history. Jakob Silfverberg started the scoring early, and Craig Anderson made 34 saves on 36 shots to preserve the win. Chase de Leo, the former Jets prospect, stepped in for the injured Alan Quine and was instrumental, winning 9 of his 11 face-offs and playing a strong defensive game. The Jets still lead the series 2-1, with game 4 scheduled for Friday night in Las Vegas.

Game 4: Vegas 1, Winnipeg 0 - Evander Kane’s first period power play goal was all Craig Anderson needed, as he stopped all 23 Winnipeg shots to tie up this first round series at 2 games apiece. Continuing a theme from this series, third period defense proved to be the difference - this time, however, it was Vegas holding Winnipeg to 2 shots on goal in the final frame. The series continues Sunday, with the puck dropping for game 5 at 3 PM local time in Winnipeg.

Game 5: Winnipeg 2, Vegas 1 - Tyler Myers slammed home a rebound of a Sam Bennett shot on a 2 on 1 rush for the Jets with 6:23 left in the game, and that’s all Connor Hellebuyck needed. He withstood a rush at the end of the game, as Dustin Byfuglien received a 5 minute major penalty with 2:40 to go, but the Golden Knights couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage. Blake Wheeler opened the scoring with a first period power play goal, and Ondrej Palat tied the game up in the second period with his first goal this postseason. Winnipeg will have the chance to clinch this Tuesday in Las Vegas, while the Golden Knights will try and extend their season in front of their home fans.

Game 6: Vegas 4, Winnipeg 1 - Three second period goals helped push this first round series to a deciding game 7 in Winnipeg this Thursday. The scoring was opened from an unlikely source - fourth liner Austin Watson redirected a snipe from Ivan Barbashev past Connor Hellebuyck to get the Golden Knights on the board first. After a power play goal from Nikolaj Ehlers tied it up, Jon Marchessault and Adam Henrique scored 2:30 apart to put the Knights up by two entering the final frame. Kevin Shattenkirk scored his second goal of the series in the third to wrap up the scoring, and Craig Anderson stopped 27 of the 28 shots sent his way. Game 7 will be at the MTS Center in two days, and the winner will advance to face the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago finished up a 4-2 series win over Minnesota earlier in the evening.

Game 7: Winnipeg 4, Vegas 3(OT) - It took 79 minutes and 6 seconds, but we eventually had a winner at the MTS Centre. Alexander Burmistrov took a pass from Kyle Connor in the slot and put it passed a screened Craig Anderson to clinch the franchise’s first series win since returning to Winnipeg in 2011. Ian Cole opened the scoring in the first period, only to be answered by a Bryan Little goal to end the opening frame tied at 1. In the second, Mason Appleton scored his first career playoff goal to put the Jets temporarily ahead; Tyler Johnson answered with his third goal of the series 85 seconds later to tie the game up. It remained even until 6:41 into the third, when Johnson scored his second of the game to put the Knights up 3-2; Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler kept the team’s hopes alive by scoring the equalizer with 5:28 to go in the game. Winnipeg kept the press on, outshooting Vegas 56-34 in the game, and 17-7 in the overtime period alone; Vegas clearly missed the offensive presence of Evander Kane, who was hurt on a goalmouth scramble midway through the second period and did not return. Dustin Byfuglien was your first star, assisting on three of the four Jets goals in 29:14 of ice time. Winnipeg will go on to face Chicago in the second round of the playoffs, while Vegas will return home to start the process of trying to improve on an impressive rookie season for the franchise. Expect remarks from both Coach Luke Richardson and GM Dan Hampton later in the week on clean-out day.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
As reported earlier, Chicago bested Minnesota in their series 4 games to 2; they will be facing the Jets in the second round. The other Western semifinal will feature the Edmonton Oilers and the San Jose Sharks; San Jose made easy work of St. Louis, dispatching them in 5 games. The battle of Alberta went a full 7 games, however, and the Oilers were able to outlast the Flames with a 4-2 win in the clinching game.

Over in the eastern conference, the Buffalo Sabres upset the heavy favorites in Montreal, winning the series 4 games to three. They’ll go on to face the Ottawa Senators, who dispatched the Red Wings in six. Meanwhile, another upset in the East saw Boston eliminating the Capitals in six games; they’ll face the Rangers after New York handily beat Columbus 4 games to 1.