Wild let third-period lead slip away 3-2 loss to Jets to open playoff series
WINNIPEG — Holding a 2-1 lead in the third period in Game 1 of their NHL playoff series in Winnipeg, the Minnesota Wild knew they had to keep the puck away from Patrik Laine.
They failed.
Laine scored at the 4:51 mark of the third period and the Jets went on to win 3-2 on Wednesday night. The seventh-seeded Wild had the Jets, who had the second best regular-season record in the NHL this year, on their heels and had sucked most of the air out of Bell MTS Place, until the error.
“We had an opportunity with the lead in the third period and our goaltender playing good, we thought we had a chance to win,” said Minnesota head coach Bruce Boudreau. “You can’t give No. 29 a chance right down the slot to score on a turnover. You’re looking for disaster there.”