The Calgary Flames eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in four games to move on to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flames won Games 1, 3 and 4 while the Jets won Game 2 of the qualifying round. Here now is a recap of Games 2-4. You can view the recap for Game 1 here.
1st Periods
Game 2: The Jets wanted retribution for the absences of forwards Mark Schiefele, Patrick Laine and Mason Appleton. Schiefele and Laine were out of the lineup due to injuries sustained in Game 1 of this series. Appleton had dealt with a shoulder problem that sidelined him for 2-3 weeks. So, guys had to step up for two of their top players. Jets forward Jansen Harkins scored his first NHL playoff career goal. But, the Flames kept coming back as they outshot the Jets 10-9 during the period.
Winnipeg went into the second period with a 1-0 lead.
Game 3: The Flames wanted to have the faster start than the Jets and that they did. They had good scoring chances but Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made saves to keep the Flames scoreless. The Jets also scored the game’s first goal just past the halfway mark of the period from Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers. However, Flames forwards Elias Lindholm scored 18 seconds later on a power play tying the game at one a piece.
The game was tied at one heading into the second period.
Game 4: Calgary’s flames didn’t burn out coming into Game 4. Yes, these Flames puns are fairly enjoyable. Flames forward Dillon Dube gets an early goal to get the game’s first goal. Calgary controlled the majority of the period though Winnipeg outshot them 11-8. However, they couldn’t find a goal past Flames goaltender Cam Talbot. Flames forward Sam Bennett also scored a goal with 0.3 seconds left.
Calgary went into the second period with a 2-0 lead.
2nd Periods
Game 2: The Jets continued to show dominance in the early stages of the period. Jets forward Adam Lowry scored with 14:17 left extending the Jets’ lead to two. However, the Flames would build momentum of their own. They scored two unanswered goals within the last 10 minutes of the period. Lindholm and Bennett both attributed to tying the game at two. Calgary would also even up the shots on goal total to 11 a piece by the end of the period.
The game was tied at two heading into the third period.
Game 3: The Flames bursted on fire this period. All pun intended of course. Calgary lit up Winnipeg with three goals within the first half of the period. They also outscored the Jets 7-3 scoring three of the seven shots on goal. Flames forwards Mikael Backlund, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk scored all three Calgary goals this period. However, the Jets would answer back and scored 20 seconds after Monahan’s goal from forward Andrew Copp to cut the lead down to one before Tkachuk scored for the Flames.
Calgary went into the third period with a 4-2 lead.
Game 4: The Jets came out with more intensity as they were able to keep up with the Flames. However, the Jets still couldn’t find an answer to Talbot and were outshot 19-8 during this period. The Flames also had scoring opportunities but couldn’t find a way to extend their two goal lead. This period was more of a back and forth battle rather than establishing dominance in one team’s zone.
The score remained the same at 2-0 going into the third period.
3rd Periods
Game 2: Winnipeg again had a good start to the period and controlled the first half of it. Ehlers scored the game winning goal on a power play with 9:36 left in the game. But, Calgary made a late rally push after Ehlers’ goal. However, they couldn’t seem to find their legs and ended up letting their game get away from them.
Winnipeg won the game 3-2 and tied the series 1-1.
Game 3: The Jets had all the momentum going for them at the start of the period until defenseman Dylan DeMelo committed a tripping penalty on Tkachuk. The Flames would go on their only power play this period. Flames forward Milan Lucic scored on the power play. He had a goal taken away from him last period due to goaltender interference. However, the Jets wouldn’t back down and outshot the Flames 10-4 during this period but couldn’t get another goal. Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau scored an empty net goal to seal the game if it wasn’t already sealed before then.
Calgary won the game 6-2 and took the series lead 2-1.
Game 4: The Jets came flying out of the intermission with a mission in hand. Yes, there’s also Jets puns. They had great chances to cut the lead and tie the game but they weren’t able to convert on anything. And, because of the missed opportunities by the Jets, the Flames scored two more goals to extend their lead. Monahan and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson both scored empty net goals to give their team a four goal lead.
Calgary won the game 4-0 and also won the series 3-1. They’ll move on to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Three Stars of the Game
Game 2
Third Star: Nikolaj Ehlers (1 goal)
Second Star: Jack Roslovic (2 assists)
First Star: Adam Lowry (1 goal, 1 assist)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL_3P4jVG5g]
Game 3
Third Star: Mikael Backlund (1 goal, 1 assist)
Second Star: Sean Monahan (1 goal, 2 assists)
First Star: Cam Talbot (33 saves)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQcASzIp-w0]
Game 4
Third Star: Dillon Dube (1 goal)
Second Star: Sam Bennett (1 goal, 1 assist)
First Star: Cam Talbot (31 saves)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIuyAzIXA4M]