Jets vs. Golden Knights Game 5: Full highlights, final score and more

The Vegas Golden Knights are headed to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year of existence after eliminating the Winnipeg Jets in five games.

The Vegas Golden Knights once again came out and scored the first goal of the game, with Alex Tuch netting his sixth of the playoffs on a Jets turnover. Turnovers and poor puck management in their own zone are becoming a slight problem for the Jets.

The lead wouldn’t last though, as Josh Morrissey blasted an absolute laser over Marc-André Fleury’s glove hand to tie the game up at 1-1. In a surprising turn of events, the Jets wouldn’t let the Knights answer with a goal and we went into the intermission tied.

The Jets hadn’t scored a first period goal since their Game 1 win. The Knights, scoring first in every game since Game 1, are undefeated after scoring the first goal of the game. Regardless of who won the game, one meaningless stat would end today.

Connor Hellebuyck took a puck to the mask in the second, breaking one of the straps in the process. He then switched out the mask for a new one with the Jets trainer and immediately let in a Ryan Reaves-deflected point shot.

Just like that, Hellebuyck’s new mask was out and the old one brought back in. Great work by the trainer to have it repaired so quickly. Lesson learned for Hellebuyck: When Ryan Reaves scores on you, you burn that new mask.

The Knights would take their 2-1 lead into the third. The Jets have dominated third period possession time in this series, but they would need to solve Fleury at least two more times to keep their Cup hopes alive. Not an easy task.

The Knights would kill as much of the third as they could, including a brief push by the Jets. Each team had several scoring chances, but the Jets could not get another puck by Fleury.

The Vegas Golden Knights are going to the Stanley Cup Final. 

This is perhaps the most improbable sentence you could have said this NHL season, but here we are.

Three Stars

Just kidding.

3. Alex Tuch

Tuch is one of many players who is stepping up huge for Vegas. Perhaps no surprise, as that seems to be the m.o. for this team. He scored the first goal of this one and had a few other decent chances to beat Hellebuyck. Tuch continues to play well for the Knights and there’s no doubt he will continue playing well in the Cup final.

2. Ryan Reaves

Reaves scored his first goal of the playoffs at the perfect time, netting the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. In his hometown of Winnipeg, no less. Well done, Ryan.

1. Marc-André Fleury

Fleury has been the best player on the ice in just about every game he has played in the playoffs. The Knights are great and Fleury is the exclamation point on what might be the most incredible story in sports this year.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/998323094396854272

Next Game

The Knights will move on to the Stanley Cup Final next week where they will play the winner of the Capitals-Lightning series. The Jets will stay home and clear their lockers but have no doubt Jets fans, you’ll be back to compete for the Cup next year.

Next: 25 most bizarre goalie masks in NHL history

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