FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Jets - Game 5 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Jets – Game 5 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (4-1) vs Winnipeg Jets (1-4)

The Golden Knights top the Winnipeg Jets 4-1, and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they await the winner of the Kings/Oilers series.

It is game 5 of the Golden Knights vs Jets series. 

The Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it was not a problem for Vegas in game 5, as they defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena. 

Vegas is the first team to advance as they await their opponent from the winner of the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers series.

“We were obviously very motivated to win that one,” Brossoit said. “Tonight especially, you don’t want to travel again if you can avoid it and take advantage of the rest. … Start to finish, every line, every [defense] pairing was very motivated and playing at the top of their game.”

Vegas goaltender Laurent Brossoit finished the game with 29 saves, Chandler Stephenson scored two goals and had one assist, and Mark Stone had a goal and two assists to help the Golden Knights to victory.

Since their inaugural season in 2017-2018, the Vegas Golden Knights are now 42-29 in the postseason. Vegas has now improved to 8-5 in 13 playoff series since entering the league.

“I think it was our best, or closest to complete, but like I said, we still have work to do, and we know that,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Nobody plays their best game in the first round. You keep building, and we’ll do the same.”

For the Winnipeg Jets, it was an unfortunate end to their season. They were the last team to clinch the Wild Card spot in the playoffs hoping to make a run for the Stanley Cup.

“I’m so disappointed and disgusted right now, that’s my thoughts,” Jets coach RickBowness said. “No pushback. It’s the same crap we saw in February. As soon as we were challenged for first place, and teams were coming after us, we had no pushback. In this series, we had no pushback. Their better players were so much better than ours it’s not even close. … They were the better team in the regular season, they were the better team in this series.”

The first period started fast and furious for the Golden Knights. Just 50 seconds into the first period, Chandler Stephenson scored the first goal to put Vegas up 1-0 after tapping in Mark Stone’s pass from the slot.

“Oftentimes, you just find chemistry with a guy,” Stone said. “We see each other’s game very well. It’s hard to explain. Maybe Chandler’s speed-backing guys off kind of gives me time on the walls with the puck and puts them on their heels a bit. Chemistry is weird. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Fortunately, we made it work.” 

End of the first period in the Golden Knights vs Jets series

The first period remained 1-0, but the second period had a similar start to the first period. 

The start of periods 2 and 3 in the Golden Knights vs Jets series.

Vegas started the second period just like the first period, with a goal in the opening seconds. About 42 seconds into the second, Mark Stone extended the lead 2-0 after gloving down the puck and firing a wrist shot from the high slot.

“It was reactionary. I wasn’t planning on doing any of that,” Stone said. “Happy to get that goal early on.”

The second period became a shooting gallery for the Golden Knights who followed with two more goals, one from William Karlsson and one from Chandler Stephenson, scoring his second goal of the night to put Vegas up 4-0.

“It’s always nice to get off to a good start. Not to hunt,” Karlsson said. “It’s better not to hunt. It’s something we talked about. They came out strong the first two games here. We kind of wanted to be that team that gets off strong.”

Laurent Brossoit hoped to get his first career playoff shutout, but that did not happen after Kyle Connor scored late in the third period. The goal giveaway did not faze the Golden Knights as they outshot the Jets 16-2 in the third period, which sealed the game and the series.

The final score in game 5 of the Golden Knights vs Jets series was 4-1, Vegas.

 The Golden Knights will await the winner of the Kings/Oilers series in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Second round matchup and time TBA. The upcoming series can be seen on AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) and or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.