Kyle Connor scored the triple-overtime winner to give the Winnipeg Jets a 4-3 victory over the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Monday night and the first playoff sweep in franchise history.
The Jets, who beat the Oilers 4-0 in the opening-round North Division playoff series, will await the winner of the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. Toronto 2-1 won to take a 2-1 series edge Monday.
Connor gained the puck as he raced down the right wing and ripped a shot home at the 6:52 of the third OT for the Jets, who won the final three games of the series in extra time. The victory came in the longest game in Jets franchise history.
Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele scored twice while Mason Appleton also tallied. Josh Morrissey and Blake Wheeler each had two assists.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 37 shots for the Jets, who became the fourth NHL team to rally from third-period deficits in the final two games to complete a playoff sweep.
Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Alex Chiasson scored for the Oilers. Nugent-Hopkins added an assist and Leon Draisaitl had two helpers. Goaltender Mike Smith made 39 saves in the loss. Defenseman Darnell Nurse played 62:07, the most ice time for an Edmonton player since it became an official stat in 1997-98.
It was the third-longest game in Oilers history.
Scheifele’s early power-play goal opened the scoring for the Jets. Scheifele cruised to the left faceoff dot and fired a one-timer at 6:16 of the first period.
McDavid netted his first goal of the series 77 seconds later when he used his speed to convert a wraparound, but Appleton restored the Winnipeg edge before the opening frame was in the books. Josh Morrissey sent a point shot Appleton deflected with 4:05 remaining in the first period.
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Nugent-Hopkins pulled the Oilers even with a great individual effort. While on a one-on-one rush, he sent a hot shot Hellebuyck couldn’t control and deposited a backhand at 3:44 of the second period for a 2-2 tie.
Chiasson’s late second-period power-play goal gave the Oilers their first lead of the night. He buried a rebound for his first playoff goal of the spring with 3:23 remaining the frame.
However, Scheifele’s second of the game forced overtime. Ethan Bear’s horrible turnover resulted in a three-way passing play that ended with a rocket of a one-timer into the top corner at 6:01 of the third period.
–Field Level Media