Chandler Stephenson scored twice and the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Winnipeg Jets from their Western Conference first-round series with a 4-1 victory Thursday night.
The Golden Knights became the first team to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Vegas, which entered the league and went to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season in 2018, is now 42-29 in the postseason.
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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) fires the puck past Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) during the second period of Game 5 of a first-round playoff series in the NHL Stanley Cup hockey on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Mark Stone added a goal and two assists and William Karlsson also scored for the Golden Knights. Goalkeeper Laurent Brossoit made 30 saves. Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for the Jets and Kyle Connor scored late in the third period to spoil Brossoit’s shutout.
Stephenson put Vegas on the board first 50 seconds into the game when he received a transmission from Stone and beat Hellebuyck before he could get back to the right side of the crease.
Leading 1-0 after one period, the Golden Knights opened the floodgates with three second-period goals.
Stone, at 42 seconds, picked up a bouncing puck and popped a wrist shot from the slot to double Vegas’ lead, 2-0.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) is defended by Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) during the second period of Game 5 of a Stanley Cup first round playoff series hockey game on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
DEVILS STEAMROLL RANGERS IN PIVOTAL GAME 5 TO TAKE SERIES LEADERSHIP
Next, Karlsson finished Michael Amadio’s backhand pass between two Jets with a timer from the gate.
Stephenson scored his second goal of the game when he hit a shot from the left circle during a power play midway through the second period.
Teams that lead 3-1 in a best-of-seven series now have a series record of 300-31 (.906).
SQUAD UPDATES: Nikolaj Ehlers, Karson Kuhlman and Kyle Capobianco made their 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff debuts for the Jets on Thursday night. Vegas was without Shea Theodore, Phil Kessel and Brayden McNabb as all three sat out. Meanwhile, Vegas D Ben Hutton, 30, appeared in the first Stanley Cup playoff game of his career.
CHAN, TO THE MAX: Stephenson recorded multiple points in each of the last four Las Vegas games, joining former Golden Knight Max Pacioretty as the only players in franchise history to have a streak of four or more contests.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Michael Amadio (22), right wing Reilly Smith (19) and center William Karlsson (71) celebrated Karlsson’s goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period of Game 5 of a series of NHL hockey Stanley Cup first round playoffs Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
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COLD STONE: After missing 39 games during the regular season due to his second back surgery in less than a year, Stone made a big return to the lineup. The 30-year-old recorded two three-point games in the first round series. He previously had two games with at least three points in his playoff career.