Local Sports
Avs eliminate Jets in five
The Winnipeg Jets playoff run came to an abrupt end Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre. Mikko Rantanen scored twice in the third period as the Colorado Avalanche defeated Winnipeg 6-3. Valeri Nichushkin, Yakov Trenin, Artturi Lehkonen and Josh Manson also scored for the Avs who took the NHL's best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series four games to one. Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Tyler Toffoli replied for the Jets. Toffoli's second goal of the playoffs 2:06 into the third period tied the game at 3-3. Rantanen then put the 2023 Stanley Cup champions ahead for good scoring back-to-back goals at 4:11 and 8:01 of the final frame. Winnipeg dropped four straight games after winning the series opener 7-6. The Avalanche outscored the Jets 22-8 after losing game one. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots in net for Winnipeg in game five while Colorado's Alexandar Georgiev made 34 saves. The Jets are 1-8 all-time as a franchise when facing elimination and are 8-19 on home ice in the playoffs. The Avalanche will face in either the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights or the Dallas Stars in round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs.