NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Lightning @ Panthers "Eastern Conference Playoff" April 21, 2024

Panthers score twice in the third period and beat the Lightning 3-2 in Game 1 of NHL playoffs It was all tied up heading into the ...

NHL '94 The "Winnipeg Jets" Win the "2024 Stanley Cup Final" 'It's a True North White out!"

The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, playing its home games at Canada Life Centre. The franchise was established as the Atlanta Thrashers on June 25, 1997, and began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season. True North Sports & Entertainment then bought the team in May 2011, and relocated the Jets to Winnipeg prior to the 2011–12 season, making them the first NHL franchise to relocate since the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997. The team was renamed the Jets after Winnipeg's original WHA/NHL team, which relocated after the 1995–96 season due to financial issues to become the Phoenix (later Arizona) Coyotes. On December 27, 1971, Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association (WHA). By 1979, many of the WHA's teams had folded, but the Jets were absorbed into the NHL along with the Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers as part of the WHA–NHL merger.[8][9] In 1996, team owner Barry Shenkarow sold the team to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke. Burke and Gluckstern originally planned to move the team to Minnesota (which had lost the North Stars to Dallas in 1993), but eventually reached an agreement with Phoenix businessman Jerry Colangelo that would see the team move to Arizona and become the Phoenix Coyotes. The original Winnipeg Jets played their last game on April 28, 1996. In the 2017–18 season, the Jets clinched their second playoff spot since relocating from Atlanta, with the help of starting goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. On March 25, 2018, the Jets beat the Nashville Predators 5–4 in a shootout, and clinched a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. On April 11, 2018, the Jets won the first playoff game in the history of the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise when they defeated the Minnesota Wild 3–2. On April 20, 2018, the Jets won their first playoff series in franchise history (and the first series victory in 31 years for the city) with a 5–0 victory over the Minnesota Wild in game five of the First Round series, winning the series 4–1. On May 10, 2018, the Jets made further franchise history by advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time, defeating the Nashville Predators four games to three; Nashville were the defending holders of the Campbell Bowl Trophy from the previous season and holders of the Presidents' Trophy for most points in the league during the 2017–18 NHL season. This would also mark the first time that either iteration of the Winnipeg Jets had advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. Facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals, the Jets defeated the Golden Knights in the first game of the series 4–2. However, the Jets went on to lose the Western Conference finals, with the Golden Knights defeating the Jets in the following four games in the series. In 2019, the Jets clinched the playoffs, but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games in the First Round. The Jets struggled in the 2019–20 season due to the departure of many high-profile defencemen such as Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Dustin Byfuglien, but were still in contention for a wild-card spot when the league shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jets were awarded a playoff spot as part of the expanded format, but injuries to star forwards Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine in the first game of their series against the Calgary Flames in the Qualifying Round handicapped the team and they were eliminated three games to one in the best-of-five series. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was also awarded the Vezina Trophy for being the league's best goaltender. The Jets won their fourth consecutive playoff berth in the 2020–21 season and swept the Edmonton Oilers in the First Round but were themselves swept in the Second Round by the Montreal Canadiens. In the 2021–22 season, the Jets finished a disappointing sixth in the Central Division, missing the playoffs. At the start of the 2022–23 season, forward Blake Wheeler was stripped of the team captaincy. The Jets then clinched the 2023 playoffs at the end of the regular season, but were defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the first round. Beginning in 2011, during the singing of "O Canada", fans commonly shout the words "True North!" (in the line "The True North strong and free") to recognize True North Sports & Entertainment. Jennifer Hanson was the Jets' regular national anthem singer for the final seven seasons of the original franchise, and performed again during the 2016 Heritage Classic Alumni Game. Stacey Nattrass (who has been uniquely known as Your Winnipeg Jets' Own) has performed the anthems at the majority of home games since 2011.

NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Panthers @ Lightning "2024 Eastern Conference Playoffs" game 4

Steven Stamkos scored his fourth and fifth goals of the series and the Tampa Bay Lightning avoided elimination with a 6-3 victory ...

NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Caps @ Rangers "2024 Eastern Conference Playoffs" game 2

NEW YORK -- — Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and an assist and the Presidents' Trophy-winning New ...

NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Lightning @ Panthers "2024 Eastern Conference Playoffs" game 2

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Carter Verhaeghe scored 2:59 into overtime, and the Florida Panthers extended their series lead with a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday. Verhaeghe took a pass from Anton Lundell in the low slot and roofed a backhand from along the goal line on the right side. Game 3 of the best-of-7 series will be in Tampa Bay on Thursday. Florida’s all-time leader with 17 Stanley Cup Playoff goals, Verhaeghe has scored five in overtime, which is tied for third in NHL history. Only Joe Sakic (eight) and Maurice Richard (six) have more. “Those are some pretty good players,” Verhaeghe said. “Anytime we go to OT, we’re pretty confident. We know it can go either way, but at the end of the day, it’s one shot and someone has to make a play eventually. Being in the conversation with those guys is crazy.” Sam Bennett had a goal and an assist, Verhaeghe also had an assist, and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for Florida, the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic Division. Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves, including a spectacular second-period stop on Matt Dumba that kept the game tied. “If you understand what your game is supposed to look like, you have something to hold on to,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice, whose team has won 11 consecutive overtime playoff games dating to 2021. “This is the style that we’re supposed to play. We have a lot of guys who have scored overtime goals. Carter Verhaeghe should think he can score an overtime goal because it has happened before. Matthew [Tkachuk] as well. We have guys who have recent positive experiences, so they’re excited about overtime.” Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos scored, and Victor Hedman had two assists for Tampa Bay, the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 34 saves. The Lightning have lost 11 of their past 12 playoff overtime games dating to 2021. “Unfortunately for us, we’re finding ourselves behind,” said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, whose team has not led in the series. “It is a tough league to come back in, especially in the playoffs.” Bennett put Florida up 1-0 at 6:16 of the first period when he followed up a rebound of Tkachuk’s shot with a backhand from the left hash marks. Tarasenko extended the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 15:12. After Vasilevskiy stopped Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot from the point, Bennett got to the rebound in front and fed Tarasenko below the right face-off circle for a one-timer. Point cut it to 2-1 at 48 seconds of the second period. Anthony Duclair’s shot from the right point went in off Point's leg while the forward was while tied up with Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad in front. Stamkos tied it 2-2 on a power play at 5:46 with a one-timer from the left circle. “Both goalies made some amazing saves,” said Stamkos, the Lightning's captain. “This game probably could have ended a lot earlier. We pushed and pushed, and maybe we sat back at the end and played a little too tentative. … We’re down 2-0 and now have to go home to win some games.” Bobrovsky kept the game tied with his highlight-reel save at 14:03. He got over from the right post and, with his back to the play, made a diving save on Dumba with the back of his arm from close range. “My vantage point was the bench, and I was in shock," Ekblad said. "It was incredible. You love to see it.” Bobrovsky chalked his save up to desperation. “I threw as much of my body as possible,” Bobrovsky said. “I was able to make the save. It’s a big win, we have a great group of guys and it’s a tight group. This is good for us.” Bennett left the game early in the second period after getting hit in the hand with a shot. There was no update. … Tarasenko scored his 45th playoff goal in his 99th game. The only active players with as many goals before their 100th playoff game are Alex Ovechkin (48) and Nathan MacKinnon (45). … Patrick Kane, Corey Perry and Glenn Anderson are tied with Verhaeghe with five overtime playoff goals.

NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Islanders @ Hurricanes Eastern Conference Playoffs game 1 April 20, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Frederik Andersen made 33 saves, including a highlight-reel stop early in the third period, for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-1 win against the New York Islanders in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at PNC Arena on Saturday. Andersen kept it tied 1-1 just 45 seconds into the third. After the goalie was knocked down in front by Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce, Noah Dobson's initial attempt hit the post, but as the defenseman gathered the rebound, Andersen lunged across to stop his shot from going into an open net. “I think I just got clipped with someone’s skate,” Andersen said. “Just kind of threw the technique book out the window and tried to come up with something to get close to the puck and get something on it.” Andersen's performance was consistent with the form he's shown since returning on March 7 from a blood clotting issue that caused him to miss 50 games. He went 9-1-0 with a 1.30 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and three shutouts in his final 10 regular-season games. “Unfortunately, he’s missed a lot of time, but this is what you get him for,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He’s always been a great goalie, he’s just not been able to stay in there. Hopefully he can stay healthy because if he plays like that, it’s a huge, huge thing.” Stefan Noesen gave Carolina a 2-1 lead at 3:44 of the third. Evgeny Kuznetsov's shot from the right point was redirected by Brady Skjei, and Noesen swatted the puck in with his backhand before it reached Semyon Varlamov. “There’s no other way that I know how to do it,” Noesen said. “I’m not the pretty dingle-dangle guy out there. You just go to the net and try to find bounces.” Skjei found himself in an unusual spot to contribute to the goal. “I don’t find myself down there too much looking for a tip,” Skjei said. “I saw ‘Kuzy’ and I had a feeling he was going to shoot it, so I just went to the slot and got a stick on it. Obviously, it was a big finish by [Noesen].” Kuznetsov and Martin Necas each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who are the No. 2 seed from the Metropolitan Division. Skjei had two assists. “We weren’t great, that’s for sure,” Brind’Amour said. “[New York] is a perfect example of a team that’s been playing playoff hockey for a month [against] a team that hasn’t. As the game wore on, it started getting up to speed with how it’s going to be.” Kyle MacLean scored, and Varlamov made 23 saves for the Islanders, who are the No. 3 seed from the Metropolitan. Game 2 will be in Raleigh on Monday. “[I am] encouraged because I think we played a really solid game,” New York coach Patrick Roy said. “It was a hard-fought game, but we had our chances. All year we’ve been resilient, and [this] is the moment to continue to do that.” Kuznetsov gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 1:35 of the first period. He took a pass from Necas and roofed a shot over Varlamov's right shoulder with Noesen providing a screen in front. “[Noesen] screened pretty good, and ‘Varly’ didn’t see the puck,” Kuznetsov said. “ That’s why I shot that puck.” MacLean tied it 1-1 at 8:20 of the first. Anders Lee tipped Alexander Romanov’s shot from the left point, which trickled under Andersen's pads, and MacLean knocked in the rebound near the right post. "It's the playoffs,” MacLean said. “There's a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement, so it was cool to help the team out there early. It was a cool experience getting my first one in [my first playoff game]." After Noesen put the Hurricanes back in front, Kyle Palmieri had a chance during a power play to tie it again. He picked up a rebound near the left post and attempted to slide the puck around Andersen into an open net, but his chance hit off the post at 12:31. Necas would go on to score an empty-net goal from center ice with 1:32 remaining for the 3-1 final. "We played a simple hockey game. We created some pretty good looks because of that," Lee said. "Guys were smart with the puck all night, head up, making plays, we just didn't bury them. "We played a solid game tonight."

NHL '94 "Game of the Night" Avs @ Jets "2024Western Conference Playoffs" game 1

Instant reaction from the Avalanche’s 7-6 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series. Manson’s moment: The Avs were clearly the better team in the game’s opening 20 minutes (and a fair amount of the next 40, for that matter). Winning puck battles. Owning the neutral zone. Passing tape to tape. Thrown together, it resulted in a 14-8 shots advantage going into the first intermission … and a 3-3 tie. How? Well, the minus-2 next to defenseman Josh Manson’s name told at least part of the story. A Manson turnover in Colorado’s zone — admittedly preceded by a poor decision from goaltender Alexandar Georgiev behind the net — served up a 2-1 Jets lead on a platter. And Winnipeg’s 3-3 equalizer a little more than four minutes before the break? It’s safe to say Manson could’ve done a better job of marking Mark Scheifele in front of the crease. Save our Ship: It’s never a good sign when the opposing fanbase is chanting your goaltender’s name. Yet that’s where the Avs and Alexandar Georgiev found themselves midway through the second period — after he’d surrendered four goals on 10 shots, the last a five-hole Andy Lowry wrister that gave Winnipeg a 4-3 lead. A week ago, Jared Bednar was pleading for his goaltender to bail his team out. “He’s got to come up with a big save for the guys,” the Avs head coach said after his team blew a three-goal lead at Vegas. Unfortunately for the Avs, Bednar had to wait until just before Sunday’s second intermission for that to happen. By that point, the damage had already been done. A 25-17 shots advantage was squandered. And things only got worse one period later. Make that 0-4 vs. Winnipeg: Nathan MacKinnon (one goal, one assist) deserves better. So does Cale Makar (one goal, two assists). The Avs’ two superstars were brilliant for much of Sunday night, firing off laser beams and relentlessly creating offense for Colorado. It could easily be argued that the Avs controlled the action for a majority of the game. They doubled the Jets’ shots at 46-23, after all. Six goals scored should win you a playoff game. And yet for the fourth time in four meetings this season, the Jets sent the Avs off the rink losers. The cumulative goal total in those four contests: 24-10, Jets. Something’s gotta change. And not just in goal. Because right now, the Jets have the Avs’ number. And that cannot be argued anymore. Central Division Dallas Stars, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions – 113 points Winnipeg Jets – 110 points Colorado Avalanche – 107 points In each round, teams compete in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage plays at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team plays at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top three teams in each division made the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference, for a total of eight teams from each conference. In the first round, the lower seeded wild card in the conference plays against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card plays against the other division winner, and both wild cards are de facto #4 seeds. The other series match the second and third-place teams from the divisions. In the first two rounds, home-ice advantage is awarded to the team with the better seed. Thereafter, it is awarded to the team that had the better regular season record. (C2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C3) Colorado Avalanche The Winnipeg Jets finished second in the Central Division earning 110 points. The Colorado Avalanche earned 107 points to finish third in the Central. This is the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Winnipeg won all three games in this year's regular season series. April 21 Colorado Avalanche 6–7 Winnipeg Jets Canada Life Centre Recap

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