The Jets Come Crashing Down in Vegas

Goals galore for the Golden Knights in this one, as Vegas dropped six goals on Olympian Connor Hellebuyck en route to a 6-2 victory on home ice. Six different goal scorers, six goals on the board. Jack Eichel had himself a four-point night, and he also recorded his first power-play goal of the season in game 81 of 82.

The second period was eventful to say the least, with the Jets and Golden Knights combining for seven penalties in the middle frame. Mark Stone changed the narrative, potting his first shorthanded goal of the season to start the scoring for Vegas. Towards the end of the second, Reilly Smith extended the Golden Knights' lead by deflecting Noah Hanifin's shot after a pressure-filled shift in the Winnipeg end.

The Golden Knights would explode for four goals in the third period. The Jets would get two goals of their own, but ultimately that would be it. Vegas put the nail in the coffin on Winnipeg's season, destroying their playoff hopes. Regardless of the result, Winnipeg would have been eliminated anyway due to the Kings grabbing the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference that night.

Vegas now pursues home-ice advantage in the first round. All they need to do is win in any fashion against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday and the Pacific Division title is theirs for the fifth time in franchise history. It felt like a wasted season and, at one point, all hope seemed lost, but Vegas has completely flipped the script. They are currently riding a nine-game point streak, which is the longest point streak they have had since 2023.