<h2>Wheat Kings make playoffs for first time in two years</h2>The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings are guaranteed to play at least 72 games this season.This past week, Manitoba's lone WHL club qualified for the 2024 postseason with a victory over the Prince Albert Raiders at home, despite dealing away captain Nate Danielson at the trade deadline.“It feels pretty good,” said the team's head coach and general manager Marty Murray. “The last little while you could taste it, we were so close but not able to finalize it. It means a lot to us to get it done by ourselves and not rely on anyone else to take care of business for us.”Through 66 of the 68 regular season games, Brandon will close out its home schedule with a date against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Thursday, before concluding the year on the road in Regina against the Pats.With a number of teams yet to secure placements, the Wheat Kings do not yet know their first round opponent, but as a bottom-feeder club, Brandon will be facing one of the Eastern Conference' top dogs. Putting things into perspective, the Wheat Kings currently have a 31-28-6-1 record for 69 points and a win percentage of .523. The league's top team, Saskatoon, owns 99 points (47-13-2-3) for a .762 win percentage with one less game played than Brandon. The two teams could meet in the first round. Swift Current and Moose Jaw are also possible opponents. The playoffs are set to begin on Friday, March 29. Despite not fully knowing which team the Wheat Kings are going to face, the club does know that it will start on the road for two games, before returning home to Westoba Place for the middle stages of the series. Wheat Kings playoff tickets can be purchased through the CHL website.

Wheat Kings Clinch WHL Playoff Berth

<h2>Bob Cole has passed Away at 90</h2>The hockey world has lost one of its very best. On Wednesday evening, legendary broadcaster Bob Cole passed away of natural causes with family and friends at his bedside.He was 90.Cole, the voice of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for parts of five decades, died in his hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland - a place which he passionately spoke of on air and in his autobiography.Some of Cole's most famous calls include the 1972 Summit Series (Paul Henderson's game-winner), the 1976 game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Soviet Union's Red Army (They're going home!), and the 2002 Olympics (Joe Sakic scores) - among others. He commonly used the phrase "oh baby" to describe an eventful moment within games. Cole also called many other Olympics, World Cups and Stanley Cup Finals over his lengthy career.Cole called his final game on April 6, 2019 - a classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada. He was recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996 as the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner for his work in broadcast media. In 2016, Cole was named to the Order of Canada in Ottawa.

Legendary Broadcaster Bob Cole Passes Away at 90

<h2>Avalanche take game 2 of best-of-seven series</h2>We've got ourselves a series now, folks.On Tuesday night, in front of another sold-out crowd of white-clad Winnipeg fanatics, the Colorado Avalanche did everything right on the way to a 5-2 victory.&nbsp;With the win, the Avalanche tied the opening round series of the Stanley Cup tournament at one win apiece and looked much the better team heading to Denver for Game 3 on Friday night.Fact is, it was like Sunday night’s game never happened. It certainly looked like a playoff hockey game – a lot more than that 7-6 shootout on Sunday night,For the visitors, at least, it was a pretty solid effort.&nbsp;For the first two periods, the Avalanche controlled the tempo, out-fought the Jets for loose pucks, got a much better goaltending performance from Alexandar Georgiev and took advantage of their chances to build a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes. The Avs easily shut down the Jets in the third and will go back to Denver in the driver’s seatFor the Jets, it was the first time in five meetings this season that they’d lost to the Avalanche and it put a halt to what was a regular season/playoff nine-game winning streak.It was also a complete turnaround from the firewagon-type goal-barrage that fans gobbled up in Game 1.In fact, it started out as if the two teams on the ice were totally different than the two teams that played Sunday night&nbsp;Everyone was a tad cautious, especially the Avs, who were outshot 9-2 early and gave up a goal to David Gustafsson – the first playoff goal of his career. Gustafsson jumped on a loose puck in front and filled an empty net behind Alexandar Georgiev to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.However, from the point on, Colorado dominated. They owned the Jets and pummelled Hellebuyck with shot-after-shot from all over the building. By the end of the period, they had outshot Winnipeg 15-12, although, as someone wiser than me suggested, “That’s why the Jets pay Hellebuyck.”Indeed, the best goalie in the NHL gets paid to stop the puck and that’s exactly what he did. Many of the saves were of the highlight-reel variety and because of their goalie, Winnipeg went to the break with a 1-0 lead.In the second, it was all Colorado again. In fact, the Avalanche might have put their stamp on the series with that second-period performance.The Avs’ momentum change started at 1:59 of the period when Ross Colton won a draw cleanly, pulled it back to Miles Wood and Wood ripped a low shot past a startled Hellebuyck to tie the game at 1-1.Then Kyle Connor took a double-minor for high-sticking Cale Makar and things looked bleak. Colorado had taken control of the play, they were all over the Jets net and Winnipeg appeared to be chasing.But out of the ashes of the four-minute penalty emerged a bit of a short-lived Phoenix. Actually, it was the wingspan of Mark Scheifele.The Jets killed the double-minor and shortly after returning to the ice, Connor started a rush at his own blueline. He hit Gabriel Vilardi with a perfect stretch pass, Vilardi took it over the blueline with Mark Scheifele streaking down the left side. Vilardi fed a hard pass across the front of the Colorado crease and with an Avs D-man both holding and interfering Scheifele, the Jets big centerman tipped the puck one-handed under the bar and suddenly Winnipeg had a 2-1 lead at 8:37.A few seconds later, Hellebuyck made a sensational save, the Jets brought the puck the other way and Kyle Connor banged a wrister off the post. It could have been 3-1 Winnipeg, but instead, the Jets were never the same again.&nbsp;Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen scored when he tipped Cale Makar's wrister past Hellebuyck at 14:16 and then Hellebuyck decided to handle the puck. As always, that’s a big mistake and this time, it was a mistake so bad, it changed the entire complexion of the game.Hellebuyck, playing dipsy-doodle beside his goal, had his stick lifted by Yakov Trenin, Andrew Cogliano grabbed the loose puck, got it to Zach Parise in front and with Hellebuyck sprawled on the ice, Parise stuck the biscuit into the back of the net to give the Avalanche a 3-2 lead at 17:20.But they weren’t done.With only a few seconds left in the period. Josh Manson stepped out of the penalty box behind the Jets defence, took a perfect pass from Nathan MacKinnon – the best player on the ice – and at 19:53 beat Hellebuyck on the ensuing breakaway to put the game away.Colorado outshot Winnipeg 14-10 and had outshot the Jets 29-22 through the first two periods. The Avs were in total control.In the third period, we got our first taste of real playoff hockey. It was check, check, check for the Avs as the Jets outshot Colorado 8-3, but couldn’t get a real good chance to beat Georgiev. The Avalanche meanwhile, got an empty net goal from Valeri Nichushkin in the dying seconds, to put it away.This series, of course, is far from over, but if Winnipeg is to keep it even on the road, they have to be a whole lot better than they were in the first two games of the series at home.Oh, and Connor Hellebuyck, as great a goalie as he is, has to keep his puck handling adventures to a minimum.

Oh, What Could Have Been - Jets Fall 5-2 to Avalanche

<h2>Jets Fall 5-2 to Avalanche as second period proves devastating</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets came out hot, but the offence dried up and the mistakes were aplenty, as the Colorado Avalanche stormed back for a 5-2 victory at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday night.Winnipeg came out firing and scored first, only to see that slight lead fall apart in the second period. The visitors scored four times in the frame to Winnipeg's one goal, doubling up the Jets through 40 minutes of play. The third period wasn't much for fans, who found themselves flocking for the exits early, despite a late-game power play and an empty net attack. Mark Scheifele scored what was likely the highlight of the game from both teams, as he redirected home a beautiful one-handed chip shot from a Gabe Vilardi pass. But all of Winnipeg's momentum was lost in a six minute stretch later in the frame where Colorado scored three times. Two goals were results of mistakes - one from Connor Hellebuyck and one from the confusion of running into an official as Josh Manson was sprung out of the penalty box on a breakaway late in the period. Unable to fully recover from the three quick markers, Winnipeg withered away and will need to rebound as the two clubs return to action on Friday in Colorado for Game 3. The loss guarantees the Jets another home game in this opening round, which will be played next week Tuesday from Canada Life Centre. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782948479511285993">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782948479511285993</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782948916482163100">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782948916482163100</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782950272458699251">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782950272458699251</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782950722788557089">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782950722788557089</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782951406527267228">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782951406527267228</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782953646453301459">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782953646453301459</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782967957569564976">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782967957569564976</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. Colorado is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01923.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i9473go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02395.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02297.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02396.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02415.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02503.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i9667go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i9873go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0335go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0447go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0741go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i1394go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02544.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02610.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02719.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02685.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0320go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i1451go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i2122go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02858.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i2228go.jpg">QUOTABLE:Mark Scheifele following the loss:"We have two days before our next one. We know it’s going to be a good crowd in Colorado. We just have to continue to work on our game and continue to find what makes us us. They are a fantastic team over there, so you’ve got to give them a lot of credit. They did a lot of good things. They blocked a lot of shots, they made it tough to get anything going. That’s the fun part of the playoffs. We weren’t expecting this to be an easy series. They’re a great team over there. We’ve just got to continue to roll with the punches.”WHAT’S NEXT:Game 3 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs goes on Friday from Colorado as the Jets and Avalanche get an extra day off between games with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers from Ball Arena on Thursday. Friday's game will get underway at 9:00 PM central time and can be viewed live on Sportsnet.

Game On Game 2 Recap: Winnipeg Jets 2 Colorado Avalanche 5

The opener was fun. It wasn’t what one might call traditional hard-nosed playoff hockey (although it was indeed hard-nosed), but it was a load of fun&nbsp;And it was also the type of game that should get Winnipeggers excited about NHL hockey again.&nbsp;On a beautiful Sunday night at a filled-to-the-rafters, recently white-washed Canada Life Centre, the Winnipeg Jets built a three-goal third-period lead and then hung on by the hairs on their chinny-chin-chins to hold off the offensively gifted Colorado Avalanche 7-6.That’s right 7-6. It’s playoff time in Winnipeg.Sports enthusiasts, there was no defensive boredom in this one. No dump-and-chase and grind. This was a nose-to-the-net shootout that showcased players with tremendous skills and made the sell-out crowd of delirious white-clad Jets fans go absolutely wacko.The crowd was loud and proud and the party outside on Donald Street was rockin’ and rollin’ all night as the Jets won a thriller to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven opening round of the 2024 Stanley Cup tournament.At the end of the nail-biter on Portage, when Sara Orlesky asked Jets assistant captain Mark Scheifele what he thought of the crowd, he simply could not believe the atmosphere in the building.“It’s bone-chilling,” Scheifele said. “These fans are awesome. The best fans in the league.”And for much of the third period, they were probably the most nervous fans in the league. After all, when two teams with the speed and skill of the Jets and Avalanche get rolling, crazy things happen.But let’s go back to the beginning. Back to when the craziness got started.And make no mistake, the first period was a little silly. And it was silly because both goaltenders and most of the two defensive units were either nervous or semi-conscious. There were six goals, plenty more chances (especially by Colorado) and more cheap giveaways than a county fair. It did not look like a playoff hockey game by any stretch of the imagination.Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin opened the scoring at 6:10 and at the time, the Avs had outshot Winnipeg 8-1.The Jets Josh Morrissey tied it on a wrister from the point at 8:02 and then Vladislav Namestnikov one-timed a loose puck in front at 11:57. Namestnikov drilled the shot under the bar as if he was really pissed off at it. It had an exclamation point on it when it went over Alexandar Georgiev’s shoulder. The Jets led 2-1 and surely things would settle down.They didn’t.Dylan Samberg gave the puck away in his own end and Miles Wood converted at 14:47 and then Nathan McKinnon drilled a shot past Connor Hellebuyck just 18 seconds later to make it 3-2 Avs.But 46 seconds after that Gabriel Vilardi found Mark Scheifele alone in front and Scheifele converted to make it 3-3. It’s was Scheifele’s 20th career post-season goal in 38 games and only three players have reached that mark in fewer games – Alex Ovechkin (26), Jake Guentzel (32) and Connor McDavid (36). Perhaps more importantly, both teams had just combined to score six goals in a span of less than 10 minutes.To paraphrase our old pal Paul Maurice, “It just didn’t look like a playoff game.”&nbsp;At the end of the first 20-minute frame, Colorado had outshot Winnipeg 14-8 and there was nothing about the period that would make either coach happy. Especially not Rick Bowness. The Jets had beaten Colorado in all three meetings this season and were 7-0 winners last week in Denver, but neither one of these teams even remotely appeared to be the same as the two teams that finished the season on April 13, at Ball Arena.&nbsp;In the second, the Jets scored the only goal as Adam Lowry went down the left wing in a two-on-one with Mason Appleton and chose to shoot. Good decision. The shot went through Georgiev’s five-hole and the Jets had a 4-3 lead. The Jets also had four goals on 10 shots.As Brian Burke once said, “We have to call it the Stanley Cup playoffs because we can’t call it ‘goalie.’&nbsp;After two periods, Colorado had outshot Winnipeg 25-17, 11-9 in the second period. It might seem as if the Avalanche had control of the proceedings, but that was misleading. The Jets were all over the Avs, but they had a penchant for fanning on passes or shooting wide. On this night, the shots were not indicative of the play.&nbsp;In the third period, the teams abandoned all intention of playing traditional “playoff hockey.” It became 1970s Montreal Canadiens “firewagon hockey” and the full house at Canada Life Centre loved every minute of the craziness.The Avalanche came out like a house on fire and peppered Hellebuyck with three quick shots, but then, three minutes into the period, big Lowry faceplanted a Colorado forward, picked up a loose puck, beat a defenceman and then fired a shot from close-in that hit both posts and crossed the line by a fraction of an inch. It was a statement goal by the Jets captain and it gave Winnipeg a 5-3 lead.The Jets appeared to be in complete control when less than two and a half minutes later, Kyle Connor scored his second of the night, whipping a shot from his office just to the left of Georgiev, to give Winnipeg a 6-3 lead. That should have been enough, but it wasn’t.Artturi Lehkonen scored for Colorado on the power play just two minutes later and then Connor scored his second of the night from in close to restore Winnipeg’s three-goal lead at 7-4.But there was more. Cale Makar scored unassisted on the Colorado power play to make it 7-5 at 12:24 and then, with time running out, Colorado coach Jared Bednar pulled his goalie (a guy who gave up seven goals on 23 shots) and got a goal from Casey Mittelstadt with 30 seconds left to make it 7-6.The final 30 seconds were a bit of a blur, but suffice it to say that Hellebuyck, who allowed six goals on the night, had to make two brilliant saves late in the game to guarantee his team a victory.&nbsp;Hellebuyck was like Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr back in the 80s. Fuhr might give up five or six on any given night, but when the game was on the line, he made the saves he had to make to seal those classic Oilers’ victories. Hellebuyck ultimately sealed the deal on Sunday night.In the end, Lowry and Connor had two goals each, Hellebuyck made 39 saves (Colorado outshot Winnipeg 44-23) and Scheifele (second) and Lowry (first) were the first two stars.But the real stars, the ones who mattered, were the 15,225 members of that white-clad army who willed the Jets to victory.And made Game 1 a whole lot of fun in the process.

Jets' Stars, Fans Lead Winnipeg to Game 1 Victory Over Colorado

<h2>Jets take down avalanche 7-6 in wild game 1</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets are off to a rip-roaring start to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Beginning things with a hectic 7-6 victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg bent, but it didn't break.Sure, the Jets were outshot 11-1 to start the game, but despite the onslaught from Nathan MacKinnon's Avalanche, Winnipeg put up three goals of its own in the opening frame, concluding the period at a 3-3 draw.Incredibly, the third was another six-goal period, with both teams also scoring three times. The difference was the second period to which captain Adam Lowry got the game's most meaningful goal.It was a completely back-and-forth affair, with neither team getting too comfortable with its short-lived lead.Kyle Connor scored twice, Adam Lowry scored twice, while Nino Niederreiter, Josh Morrissey, Brenden Dillon, Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi each had multi-point outings. Connor Hellebuyck didn't play well, but he managed better than Colorado's backstop Alexander Georgiev. The two allowed a combined 13 goals, but Hellebuyck faced 46 shots to Georgiev's 23. No, the stat-lines in net were not pretty.But as the players said post-game, that was something that will be cleaned up going forward in Game 2.HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782182395757682942">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782182395757682942</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782184426346074144">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782184426346074144</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782185286211870982">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782185286211870982</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782190183850352882">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782190183850352882</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782204046155125180">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782204046155125180</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782211015683227821">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782211015683227821</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782214904365170840">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782214904365170840</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782218792904303024">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782218792904303024</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782224101802696941">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782224101802696941</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782235223679189132">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1782235223679189132</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Sunday's game vs. Colorado is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01598.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01530.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01761.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01763.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01822.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01822.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01819.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01817.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01747.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01568.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01592.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01685.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01844.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01770-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01740.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02025-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02025.jpg">QUOTABLE:Colorado head coach Jared Bednar on Alexander Georgiev's performance:“It probably needed to be better, right? Like I thought we played well, we created some chances. He made some good saves, but we’re gonna need like a couple more saves than that probably to win, you know. But it is what it is. We’ll regroup. We made some mistakes in front of him that we’ll have to clean up and try to get the job done. It’s a team game.”Jets' head coach Rick Bowness on Adam Lowry's performance:"Again, he’s been a great leader for the team on and off the ice. He was a great choice for captain. He loves these challenges. He’s going up against one of the best players in the world, not necessarily the league but the world in Nate. So, he loves those challenges and he takes his game to another level. The intensity is always there and it was certainly there tonight and it’s nice to see him get rewarded with a couple of goals, because he worked incredibly hard. When you’re playing against the Mackinnon line you’re going to have to work very, very hard and you’re going to have to be very, very smart and Adam did those things for us tonight."WHAT’S NEXT:Game 2 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will take place on Tuesday in the late night showing, as Winnipeg takes on Colorado at 8:45 in second test of the first round. That game will also be aired live on Sportsnet.

Game On Game 1 Recap: Winnipeg Jets 7 Colorado Avalanche 6

<h2>Fighter Jets to provide support to Winnipeg Jets Sunday</h2>On Sunday evening, prior to puck drop of Game 1 of the opening round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and the Colorado Avalanche, fans gathered downtown at Canada Life Centre will be greeted with a treat high above the rooftops.The Royal Canadian Armed Forces has announced that two CF-18 Hornet fighter jets will conduct a flyby moments before the puck is dropped in Winnipeg.The two planes will be hightailing it in from 4 Wing in Cold Lake, Alberta. Typically flying at speeds upwards of 1,200 miles per hour, the two planes will make the trek from northern Alberta in roughly one hour's time. Their flight path will be tracked in order to time the exact moment of passover just moments after the Canadian national anthem concludes and just before the puck is dropped to open the series.The flyby will be shown live on the jumbotron inside Canada Life Centre, while fans outside at the Whiteout Street Party on Donald Street and the Party in the Plaza at True North Square will have a front row seat to the planes cruising by 500 feet above.Winnipeg and Colorado will then promptly begin their best-of-seven first round series before taking to the ice for Game 2 late on Tuesday night.

RCAF Flyby Scheduled for Puck Drop of Game 1 in Winnipeg

<h2>Jets and avalanche to begin series from winnipeg on sunday</h2>The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche are set to square off from Canada Life Centre in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' opening round in Winnipeg on Sunday evening. Another day featuring a full slate of games following opening day on Saturday, Sunday is set to have playoff matchups, with the Jets and Avalanche being the prime-time 6:00 PM central showdown live on Sportsnet.Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will lead the Jets out onto the ice, while forward Morgan Barron will sit Sunday's contest out with a lower-body injury. David Gustafsson will take his place in the lineup, while Cole Perfetti - fresh off a two-goal performance on Thursday - will look on from the press box.The Jets will look to build upon their 7-0 victory in Denver from just over a week ago, while Hellebuyck will begins his search for possible third, fourth and fifth trophies to add to his collection from the 2023-24 season. Winnipeg finished the regular season at 52-24-6, while Colorado ended with a 50-25-7 record. The Jets won the season series 3-0 this year and will look to keep the good times rolling as the whiteout makes it way to Winnipeg on Sunday evening.

Jets Prepare to Open Series vs. Avalanche Sunday

<h2>Jets earn jennings trophy in win over vancouver</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets are finally set for flight in the postseason. The Jets took to the ice for the final time of the 2023-24 regular season on Thursday night, and took care of a Vancouver Canucks team, also in the hunt for the top record in Canada.But as things turned out, it was Winnipeg that finished the year atop the standings in the Great White North. It was a back-and-forth game that ended with AHL call-up Nikita Chibrikov scoring the winner, while fellow draft pick turned call-up Brad Lambert assisting on the opening goal of the game. Winnipeg fell behind quick, but only allowed one more goal all game, finishing the year with the fewest goals against and securing the William Jennings Trophy in the process. Playing without most of the team's stars, Winnipeg put up a valiant effort, despite its roster looking very different than the one that will face off agains the Colorado Avalanche in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday.Yes, it's official, the Jets will now face the Avalanche on Sunday evening in the first game of the best-of-seven series. Game 2 will likely go Tuesday, before the teams shift to Colorado for Games 3 and 4. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781096911014932905">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781096911014932905</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781103165284155454">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781103165284155454</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781103874788536562">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781103874788536562</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781116229106770374">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781116229106770374</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781118360643653991">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781118360643653991</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781142322371023102">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781142322371023102</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781144044376064472">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781144044376064472</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781148145591742706">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781148145591742706</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781152995134013608">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1781152995134013608</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Vancouver is courtesy of James Carey Lauder and Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01775.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01771.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00953.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01888.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01979.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01973.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i4973go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i4783go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i4635go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i4301go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02129.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i4560go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i4593go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i5258go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i5456go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i5610go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00985.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01003.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01002.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00992.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i6144go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i6576go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i6076go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i6035go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i6951go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02144.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02155.jpg">QUOTABLE:Nikita Chibrikov on the possibility of having his family in attendance for the game."They're watching online from Russia because it's really hard to travel now. I think it's 30 hours, the flight. Yeah."Brad Lambert on the Winnipeg Jets and the upcoming postseason run:“It’s unbelievable. The feeling around Winnipeg, you kind of feel it. They’ve been playing great and winning a ton. I think they have a really good chance.”WHAT’S NEXT:The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin this weekend, as the Jets host the Colorado Avalanche in Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series set to get underway on Sunday evening. Puck drop is expected to be at 6:00 PM central time. Every game of the postseason can be viewed live on Sportsnet.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 4 Vancouver Canucks 2

<h2>Jets forwards lambert and chibrikov to make NHL debuts thursday</h2>The Winnipeg Jets have made the decision to recall forward Brad Lambert from the Manitoba Moose in advance of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.This move comes partly as a reward for a strong rookie season in the American Hockey League, but also as a personnel alignment, as head coach Rick Bowness helps solidify his roster for what he hopes will be a lengthy postseason run.Lambert, 20, was called up from the Moose alongside fellow forwards Nikita Chibrikov and Parker Ford on Thursday, while veteran backstop Collin Delia also earned the nod. The four players will earn NHL pay for the time being, while practicing and travelling with the big league club.As a matter of fact, the Jets have opted to sit a number of regularly rostered players for their game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday evening. Those players include Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Brenden Dillon. Morgan Barron will also remain out of the lineup after suffering a lower-body injury on Tuesday vs. Seattle.Filling in will be a number of recent healthy scratches: Cole Perfetti, Rasmus Kupari, David Gustafsson, Nate Schmidt and Colin Miller. Both Lambert and Chibrikov are also expected to draw into the lineup, marking their NHL debuts. Ford will be ready to go should something come up in warmup or between morning skate and game time.Lambert has suited up in 63 games for Manitoba this season and leads the team in points as a first-year player. He has 20 goals and 54 points on the year, while the 2022 first round pick ranks first and second among all rookies in assists and points, respectively. He will suit up alongside Gabe Vilardi and Alex Iafallo as a centreman on the team's second line. Vancouver is also expected to rest a number of regulars.

Jets to Rest Stars, Recall Top Prospect Brad Lambert 

<h2>Jets defeat Kraken in Penultimate game of season</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have secured at minimum the first two games of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre. Thanks to a 4-3 home win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night, the Jets will be hosting the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs' opening round, which are expected to begin on Monday in Winnipeg. With concerts, basketball games and other out-of-market matchups to consider, the logical start date is likely Monday, with the series' second game beginning on Wednesday. Things will then shift to Denver on Friday and Sunday, before a possible return to Winnipeg for Game 5. Tuesday's showdown with the Kraken featured a blown lead, two goals from Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck's 37th win of the season. He turned aside 20 of the 23 shots he faced and helped his teammates clinch that all-important home-ice advantage as playoff season rolled around. Winnipeg pulled ahead first finished up the opening frame ahead 2-1. Nikolaj Ehlers added one early in the second period, but Seattle stormed back with two strikes to tie things up.Needing a big third period, the Jets rallied on a Jared McCann minor, pulling back ahead in front of the sellout crowd at Canada Life Centre. Ehlers found Tyler Toffoli, whose 33rd of the season proved to be the winner, and final goal scored of the game. Now, Winnipeg will look to close out the year with an eighth-straight win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780393134272201026">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780393134272201026</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780394623950581881">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780394623950581881</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780397894345928927">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780397894345928927</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780398653309637113">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780398653309637113</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780402408562053494">https://twitter.com/CBrooksie84/status/1780402408562053494</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. Seattle is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1717go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1446go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1386go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1280go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1025go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i2568go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i2853go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1873go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i1770go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i2935go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i3168go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_92i3583go.jpg">QUOTABLE:Nikolaj Ehlers on playing a full 82-game season:It's nice, it's very nice. It's been a while and it's something that I don't set a lot of goals for myself and obviously you never know what happens during the season. It's not like I've asked for the injuries I've had in the past but that's part of it. And it sucks not playing but it's also sometimes good to go through stuff like that. So it's something that I'm very, very happy about.Kyle Connor, on if he's playing his best hockey right now:“I mean, you can say that for a lot of guys in here. You know, myself, I think we're all ramping up and building towards it. Our confidence is pretty high going into the playoffs. For everybody here and in our team game, we know what it takes to win. We kind of found ourselves an identity and I feel like we missed last month and, you know, really, really, showing what it takes to win. You know, we obviously went on a skid there where we lost five straight and we took a deep look at our game and what was working and what wasn't working. Personally as well, I think everybody kind of looked themselves in the mirror at that point, realizing that we needed better from everybody and we're just as hungry as everybody right now.”WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg will now close out its regular season schedule with an all-Canadian affair with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. That game will also be played at home, with the puck being dropped at 7:00 PM central time at Canada Life Centre.

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