WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) – Mikko Rantanen scored his first two goals of the playoffs in the third period and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-3 on Tuesday night to open their playoff series in five games. It was decided in the match. .
Rantanen, who also had an assist, scored twice in just under four minutes early in the third period to tie the score at 3-3.
“This is the best hockey we've played in five consecutive games all season,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. I think there is,” he said.
Valeri Nichushkin, Yakov Trenin, Artturi Lehkonen and Josh Manson also scored for the Avalanche, who will face the winner of the series between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights.
Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews each had two assists and Alexander Georgiev made 33 saves for Colorado.
“I thought maybe we were a little too cautious in the first few periods,” Georgiev said. “But we knew on the third goal they were going to try to open up their chances, so we scored a big goal, the fourth goal and continued to play smart. A very, very solid effort. is.”
Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26 shots.
“This was the best playoff game we've played in (the last) two years,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “Tonight it didn't go our way. Some goals came from us. We had some chances where we didn't score.
“Where was it in the first four games? That's a question we'll have to answer over the summer.”
After a fast-paced first period, the game was tied at 1, with Colorado leading 3-2 going into the third period.
Toffoli scored the tying three points for the Jets, who won all three games during the regular season. However, Rantanen scored his first goal of the game two minutes later at 4:11, giving the Avalanche a 4-3 lead. He added his second goal at 8:01.
Munson fired a shot into an empty net with two seconds left, capping a victory for Colorado, which finished three points behind Winnipeg in the Central Division. This was the first time the two teams met in the playoffs.
Winnipeg became the first team in NHL history to allow more than five goals in the first five games of the postseason. During the series, the Avalanche outscored the Jets 28-15, including four empty-net goals.
“I work all year round to give myself a chance,” Morrissey said. “We had a great regular season. Out of 5, pretty disappointing.”
With the game tied at 1 in the second period, Trenin's shot hit the post, he recovered the puck and flipped it into the net at 5:42, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead and their first goal and points of the series. obtained. .
Winnipeg went on its first power play a minute later, with Morrissey's one-time shot from the point beating Georgiev with 14 seconds to go, giving them the man advantage.
Lehkonen made it 3-2 with 6 minutes, 15 seconds left, when Jets defenseman Neal Pionk accidentally slammed the puck into the net with his stick.
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