Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
LAS VEGAS – Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson scored the game-winning goal early in the third period and Mark Stone added two late goals as the Golden Knights beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 on Thursday night.
The victory gave Vegas a split of the first two games in the first-round NHL playoff series at T-Mobile Arena. The Jets won the opener 5-1 on Tuesday night.
The best-of-seven series will shift north of the border for the next two games.
Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre. Game 4 is set for Monday night.
Stephenson knocked in a rebound at 5:37 of the third and found Stone with a goalmouth pass at 13:01. The Vegas captain iced the win by wiring a wrist shot past Connor Hellebuyck at 17:30.
William Karlsson and Jack Eichel had the other Vegas goals.
Adam Lowry and Kevin Stenlund tallied for the Jets.
Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers sat out again with an upper-body injury but Morgan Barron was back with a full cage on his helmet. Barron needed over 75 stitches after taking a skate to the face in Game 1.
For the second game in a row, the Jets quieted the sellout crowd with a strong start. Winnipeg dominated play over the first few minutes and recorded the first five shots on goal.
The Golden Knights’ first shot didn’t come until the 5:35 mark when Stephenson’s one-timer required a highlight-reel save from Hellebuyck.
The Winnipeg netminder snagged the low shot and swung his glove to the outside of the post while most of his body was behind the goal line. A review upheld the no-goal call.
The Jets opened the scoring at 9:18 of the first period on the power play. Winnipeg controlled the puck from the faceoff and Neal Pionk’s wrister was redirected by Lowry past Laurent Brossoit for his third goal of the playoffs.
Vegas had three power-play opportunities in the opening stanza but Winnipeg had a 17-8 edge in shots on goal.
The Golden Knights came out with more intensity to start the second period. Stone and Nicolas Roy had strong chances down low but couldn’t convert.
Karlsson roofed a loose puck at 5:54 to tie the game. The Golden Knights kept the pressure on and were rewarded at 10:25 when Eichel redirected Alex Pietrangelo’s one-timer from the point.
Winnipeg pulled even at 16:01 when Saku Maenalanen flipped a pass to Stenlund, who chipped it over Brossoit’s shoulder.
Vegas outshot Winnipeg 39-33.
PHIL THE THRILL
Phil Kessel assisted on Karlsson’s goal for his first playoff point as a member of the Golden Knights.
The 17-year NHL veteran had 36 points over 82 regular-season games in his first season with Vegas.
FREE WILLY
Karlsson, who had the lone Vegas goal in Game 1, scored in back-to-back playoff games for the first time since he did it twice in 2018 after the Golden Knights’ inaugural regular season.
HIGH FIVE
After the two games in Winnipeg, the series will return to T-Mobile Arena on April 27 for Game 5. Game 6, if necessary, will be played at Canada Life Centre on April 29.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2023.
Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.
