Fans give Jets standing ovation
It was fun while it lasted.
After soaring for so long, the Winnipeg Jets finally ran out of fuel, ending their best-ever season on a four-game tailspin.
The Jets took the first game of the Western Conference final from the Vegas Golden Knights, but lost the next four straight — including Sunday afternoon's 2-1 defeat at home — and were sent packing 4-1 in the best-of-seven series. The goal that ended the Jets season came off the stick of Winnipeg-born Ryan Reaves, son of Blue Bombers legendary running back Willard Reaves.
The second-period goal was Reaves's first of the playoffs and first as a Golden Knight. The 11-year NHL veteran, who played junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings, was traded to the Knights by Pittsburgh in February.
"We call ourselves the Golden Misfits for a reason. I think we're doing a good job of proving everyone wrong," he said in a post-game interview.
The Jets had a power play opportunity to try and get the equalizer with four minutes left in the period but spent too much time passing, waiting for the perfect opening that never came, instead of directing some shots at the net.
Despite the Round 3 collapse, the Jets and their fans have a lot to celebrate after setting all sorts of franchise records.
No NHL squad from this Prairie city has ever gone as deep into the playoffs as this, created as much sensation as this across the country or raised as much hope.
And when next season starts, a new banner will be raised to the rafter of Bell MTS Place, declaring the 2017-18 Jets as Central Division champions.
After a back-and-forth Round 2 series in which the Jets knocked off the Nashville Predators — the No. 1 team in the NHL regular season — they earned that crown.
The banner as Western Conference champions will have to wait until next year.
As for the Stanley Cup? Well, if the Hockey News prediction from three years ago holds up, that will be next year, too.
Not giving up
Prior to the game, you'd have been hard pressed to find a doubtful tone among the thousands of white-clad fans.
Outside, the street crowd chanted "We want the cup," while inside Bell MTS Place, fans brought homemade signs that said, "We still like our odds" and "We believe."
None of the fans seem ready to throw in all of those white towels they've been waving since the puck dropped on the team's first playoff game back on April 11.
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