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Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 2: Highlights from Vegas’ statement win

By Bruin Belisle

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 14: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare #41 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against Brandon Tanev #13 of the Winnipeg Jets during the third period in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place on May 14, 2018 in Winnipeg, Canada. The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 14: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare #41 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against Brandon Tanev #13 of the Winnipeg Jets during the third period in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place on May 14, 2018 in Winnipeg, Canada. The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets took Game 1 of their series against the Vegas Golden Knights. They were looking for another win in Game 2. Here’s how it all went down.

3. 942. 1. 107. Final

The Jets came out to another fired-up crowd, as is expected in the best arena in hockey. The whiteout crowd was silenced in the first period though, as the Vegas Knights put two pucks into the net in the first period (and two more past Connor Hellebuyck that rang iron). The Knights held a 2-0 lead on goals from Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Marchessault.

The Jets were sluggish from the end of the first into the second period. The Jets had a hard time holding on to the puck in the second period but they still managed a couple of scoring chances. Neither team found the scoreboard in the second. The Knights looked like the better team through two.

The Jets opened the third period on a power play after Blake Wheeler was tripped with two seconds left in the second period. The Knights would kill the penalty but not without a few Jets chances, which was enough to balance the ice once again. Given a second power play chance minutes later, the Jets would finally crack the scoreboard on a bad angle shot from Kyle Connor.

The crowd would reignite for all of a minute before Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault put another puck past Connor Hellebuyck to make it 3-1 (his second of the night). The Knights controlled the rest of the game and this one would end at 3-1 Vegas.

Three Stars

3. Goal posts 

Not that we’re counting, but this game would be 6-3 if not for the goal posts. Both goaltenders benefitted from some help from their skinny red buddies tonight. Sometimes when all else fails, the goal post has your back, and when they do you have to show them some love.

2. Marc-André Fleury

Fleury was his usual solid self tonight, letting in only one goal on 31 shots. He’s been nothing short of incredible in this playoff run and his stellar play continued tonight as he picked up his 71st playoff win (Tied for 9th all time with Jacques Plante). He also has to deal with the Winnipeg crowd doing this all night (which he admittedly enjoys):

1. Jonathan Marchessault

The Vegas forward is having himself a great playoffs. He added to his points total with two goals tonight, including the one that snubbed any chance of the crowd getting behind a Jets comeback. Marchessault now has 15 points in the playoffs, which is a record for playoff points by a player on an expansion team.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/996213601760366593

Next Game

The Winnipeg Jets will travel to Las Vegas for Game 3 of this series on Wednesday, May 16 at 9:00 p.m.

Next: 5 free agents the Coyotes should consider

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