Jets Open Floodgates On Panthers, Jets Divebomb Panthers 7-0

The Jets and the Panthers take the ice in Winnipeg, each team looking to bring their respective long suffering fanbases their first playoffs in over a decade.

First Period:

Just 30 seconds into the period, Tomas Fleischmann would gift the Jets with a power play when he hooked Blake Wheeler in the defensive zone. Winnipeg only managed one shot on goal, while Florida cleared the puck out twice.

Four minutes into the game Evander Kane opened the scoring by beating Jose Theodore glove side by collecting an errant pass deep in the Panthers zone with his 25th goal of the season.

Two minutes later, the Jets scored on an out of position Theodore to make it 2-0. Jim Slater scored his ninth goal of the season after Ed Jovanovski accidentally knocked the goaltender off his feet. Mark Stuart and Chris Thorburn each earned an assist on the play. The Jets collected nine shots to three for the Panthers in the first six minutes of action.

Tomas Fleischmann almost scored on a breakaway at the 12:30 mark, beating Ondrej Pavelec but losing to the top crossbar. He got another breakaway chance with three minutes remaining, but was stoned by Pavelec.

Second Period:

The Panthers would go on the power play at the four minute mark when Tim Stapleton hooked Mike Weaver. The Panthers collected three shots on goal, but could not capitalize, as the Jets cleared the puck out of the zone four times.

Florida got four quick shots on Ondrej Pavelec at the seven minute mark, with a big scramble in front of the Winnipeg goal, but there was too much traffic for the Panthers to shoot through.

Keaton Ellerby hit Blake Wheeler so hard he dropped his stick and just stood there for a minute. Four minutes later, Erik Gudbranson took Wheeler off his skates with a crushing shot to the chest.

Third Period:

The game was pretty close going into the third, but the Jets put the kibosh on any Florida comeback plans by scoring five goals on just 11 shots. Jose Theodore was pulled after the Jets scored a total of four goals on 24 shots. Scott Clemmensen allowed three more goals on only eight shots in relief.

Goal scorers in the third for the Jets: Kyle Wellwood (14), Brian Little (19), Nik Antropov (10), Blake Wheeler (14) and Evander Kane, with his second of the night (26). 13 different Jets wound up on the scoresheet as the Panthers head back to Sunrise for a weekend back-to-back against the Nashville Predators and the Ottawa Senators.

Panthers Put 17 Shots On Pavelec In Second, Still Trail Jets, 2-0

The Panthers would go on the power play at the four minute mark when Tim Stapleton hooked Mike Weaver. The Panthers collected three shots on goal, but could not capitalize, as the Jets cleared the puck out of the zone four times.

Florida got four quick shots on Ondrej Pavelec at the seven minute mark, with a big scramble in front of the Winnipeg goal, but there was too much traffic for the Panthers to shoot through.

Keaton Ellerby hit Blake Wheeler so hard he dropped his stick and just stood there for a minute. Four minutes later, Erik Gudbranson took Wheeler off his skates with a crushing shot to the chest.

Hits: Jets, 28-18 (Chris Thorburn leads the Jets with four, Erik Gudbranson three for the Panthers)

Blocked Shots: Jets, 13-11 (Mike Weaver has three for Florida, Mark Stuart and Ron Hainsey each have four for the Jets)

Faceoffs: Panthers, 16-14 (Marcel Goc has won six of 11 for the Cats, Jim Slater five of eight for the Jets)

Shots on goal: Panthers, 23-21 (Andrew Ladd has four for Winnipeg, Mikael Samuelsson leads Florida with four)

Score: Jets 2, Panthers 0

Winnipeg Leads Florida After One, Jets Score Two Quick On Panthers

The Jets and the Panthers take the ice in Winnipeg, each team looking to bring their respective long suffering fanbases their first playoffs in over a decade.

First Period:

Just 30 seconds into the period, Tomas Fleischmann would gift the Jets with a power play when he hooked Blake Wheeler in the defensive zone. Winnipeg only managed one shot on goal, while Florida cleared the puck out twice.

Four minutes into the game Evander Kane opened the scoring by beating Jose Theodore glove side by collecting an errant pass deep in the Panthers zone with his 25th goal of the season.

Two minutes later, the Jets scored on an out of position Theodore to make it 2-0. Jim Slater scored his ninth goal of the season after Ed Jovanovski accidentally knocked the goaltender off his feet. Mark Stuart and Chris Thorburn each earned an assist on the play. The Jets collected nine shots to three for the Panthers in the first six minutes of action.

Tomas Fleischmann almost scored on a breakaway at the 12:30 mark, beating Ondrej Pavelec but losing to the top crossbar. He got another breakaway chance with three minutes remaining, but was stoned by Pavelec.

Hits: Jets, 15-6 (Former Panther Tanner Glass leads all players with three)

Blocked Shots: Jets, 8-6 (Brian Campbell and Mike Weaver have two each for Florida, Mark Stuart has two for the Jets)

Faceoffs: Tied, 9-9 (Jerred Smithson has won three of four for the Cats, Bryan Little two of six for the Jets)

Shots on goal: Jets, 13-7 (Andrew Ladd has three for Winnipeg, Fleischmann leads Florida with his two breakaway shots)

Score: Jets 2, Panthers 0

Florida Panthers Visit Winnipeg Jets: Injury Report And Starting Lineup

Florida Panthers:

Injury Report:

Starting Lineup:

Forwards:

Sean Bergenheim - Stephen Weiss - Mikael Samuelsson

Tomas Fleischmann - Marcel Goc - Wojtek Wolski

Shawn Matthias - Mike Santorelli - Jack Skille

Krys Barch - John Madden - Jerred Smithson

Defensemen:

Jason Garrison - Brian Campbell

Ed Jovanovski - Erik Gudbranson

Keaton Ellerby - Mike Weaver

Goalie:

Jose Theodore has been confirmed as the starter, and looks to improve his already stellar 15-5-1 record against the Thrasher/Jets franchise.

Winnipeg Jets:

Injuries:

Starting Lineup:

Forwards:

Andrew Ladd - Brian Little - Blake Wheeler

Evander Kane - Alexander Burmistrov - Kyle Wellwood

Tanner Glass - Jim Slater - Chris Thorburn

Tim Stapleton - Nik Antropov - Antti Miettenen

Defensemen:

Tobias Enstrom - Dustin Byfuglien

Ron Hainsey - Zach Bogosian

Randy Jones - Mark Stuart

Goalie:

Ondrej Pavelec has been confirmed as tonight's starter.

Florida Panthers Visit Winnipeg Jets: Facts And Figures

Tonight marks Florida’s 16th attempt to secure a four game winning streak since their last such run, in March of 2008. They’ll have to do it without Jet killer Kris Versteeg, who didn’t make the trip due to a lower body injury.

Common Thread:
Panthers defenseman Mike Weaver played 57 games over three seasons for the team when they were still based out of Atlanta. He tallied six assists with a minus-six rating and 30 penalty minutes.

Jets left winger Tanner Glass played 44 games for Florida over two seasons, scoring one goal and one assist with a minus-five rating and 46 penalty minutes.

Jets left winger Kenndal McArdle played 33 games over three seasons for the Panthers, scoring one goal and two assists with a minus-eight rating and 47 penalty minutes.

Team Milestones:
Goals:
Tomas Fleischmann currently has 20 goals, and will move into a tie with Jason Garrison in 49th with his next. Kris Versteeg sits in 48th, with 22.
Shawn Matthias moves past Mike Van Ryn into 45th with his next goal, number 26.
Mike Santorelli moves into a tie for 37th with Niklas Hagman if goal number 30 happens tonight.
Ed Jovanovski will tie Richard Zednik in 32nd with his 32nd goal.
Two more goals for Stephen Weiss will move him into a tie for fourth with Nathan Horton, at 142.

Assists:
Brian Campbell’s 40th assist will tie him in 49th with Terry Carkner.
Ed Jovanovski’s next assist will give him 61, moving him past Dave Lowry into 28th.

Team Leaders:
Games:
Mike Weaver, Brian Campbell, Tomas Fleischmann – 62

Goals:
Kris Versteeg – 22
Tomas Fleischmann – 20
Stephen Weiss – 16

Assists:
Brian Campbell – 39
Stephen Weiss – 30
Kris Versteeg – 27

Points:
Kris Versteeg – 49
Tomas Fleischmann, Stephen Weiss – 46

Plus/Minus:
Jason Garrison, Stephen Weiss – plus-8
Mikael Samuelsson – plus-5

Point Shares:
Jose Theodore – 7.2
Brian Campbell, Jason Garrison – 6.6
Kris Versteeg – 6.2
Tomas Fleischmann – 5.4
Stephen Weiss – 5.3

Florida Panthers Visit Winnipeg Jets: Game 63 Preview

Florida looks to open up a five point lead on idle Washington by taking on the Winnepeg Jets, who also have a lot riding on tonight's matchup.