The Jets extinguish the Wild

Perfetti's double sinks the Wild again

Old grudge, new shelf

The Winnipeg Jets finished 26th of 32 last season. The Minnesota Wild finished 7th. None of that counted at Canada Life Centre, where one of these candles would go dark on qualification night. These two had been here before: in last season's round of 16 the Jets won 4-3 and ended the Wild's run. Minnesota had fallen in the round of 16 in each of the last three Gauntlets. This time a loss meant falling at the very first step.

Kaprizov answers twice

Cole Perfetti tipped one in at 1:50, set up by Neal Pionk and Mark Scheifele. Kirill Kaprizov answered at 8:47 by batting the puck out of the air. Scheifele snapped Winnipeg back in front at 17:54. Just 0:44 later Kaprizov tipped in his second, from Quinn Hughes and Jonas Brodin, and the first period ended level at two.

Perfetti lights the way

The tie lasted 17:58. With Bobby Brink in the box for hooking, Perfetti snapped the game-winner at 16:36 of the second, with Gabriel Vilardi and Scheifele assisting. Kyle Connor wristed one in alone at 4:06 of the third, and Cole Koepke added another wrist shot at 14:42, set up by Vladislav Namestnikov.

Stuart Skinner stopped 19 of 21. Calvin Pickard made 20 saves on 25 shots. The Jets burn on, one of 21 flames still lit. The Wild have gone cold.