Jets nip Kraken, seal home ice in first-round series

Kyle Connor scored twice as the Winnipeg Jets won their seventh game in a row, defeating the visiting Seattle Kraken 4-3 on Tuesday.

The victory guaranteed the Jets (51-24-6, 108 points) home-ice advantage in their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche (49-25-7, 105 points).

Jets forwards Tyler Toffoli and Nikolaj Ehlers both had a goal and an assist, while Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk each had two assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves for the win.

Yanni Gourde had a goal and an assist for Seattle (33-35-13, 79 points). Tomas Tatar and Tye Kartye also scored, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 20 shots.

The score was 3-3 before Winnipeg got the winner just past the midway point of the third period.

On a power play, Toffoli reeled in a pass from Ehlers, stickhandled in the slot and scored on a backhand attempt to put Winnipeg ahead for good with 8:20 remaining.

The Jets opened the scoring at 10:33 of the first period when Scheifele sent a backhand pass to Connor, who wristed the puck into the net.

Off a rush, Seattle responded with a quick chip pass from Bellemare to Tatar that allowed Tatar to cut into the middle of the ice and shoot and score to even the game at 1-1 with 1:22 left in the first period.

The Jets went on top again with six seconds left in the first. Connor netted his second of the game from the same spot as his first at the edge of the circle.

Winnipeg grew the lead to 3-1 at 2:30 in the second. Jaden Schwartz attempted to clear a Toffoli shot on net that arced over Grubauer and landed in the crease, but it was swept in by Ehlers.

Just 2:41 later, the Kraken got back within one. Using more traffic in front, Gourde deflected in a point shot from Evans that was going wide.

With 1:47 remaining in the middle frame, a series of Winnipeg turnovers led to Gourde and Kartye both being left alone in front, and Kartye put the puck into the roof of the net for a 3-3 tie.

—Field Level Media