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