Winnipeg Jets buzz past Washington Capitals with 3-2 win - NHL Update
The MTS Centre was buzzing with excitement as a 15,000 capacity crowd cheered on the Winnipeg Jets won a heart-pounding encounter with the Washington Capitals by a 3-2 margin on Friday, March 16, 2012.
In what was one of the best games witnessed this season, the Jets ended Washington’s four-game winning streak to take all two points with a ninth minute winner scored by Dustin Byfuglien.
The win puts the Jets just two points off the final playoff spot as they lie ninth in the Eastern Conference with 76-points.
For Washington it was a loss they could have done without as the gap between themselves and ninth spot has closed down to just two-points and with just a few games left in the regular season every single point lost hurts dearly.
The Capitals are still in a playoff spot but just barely as the lie eighth in the Eastern Conference with 78-points.
Winnipeg coach Claude Noel praised the fans for putting up such an amazing atmosphere for the game.
"It's classic. That's what you've got to like. It's not the standard `Boo, yah, boo, yah.' They come up with new things."
"I mean, they're just ruthless."
The 15,000 fans cheered on their team all the way and it seemed that the players too got a kick from the support as they regained the lead for the third time in the game to get the two points.
Forward Andrew Ladd praised the team’s effort and said that they would have to continue to perform if they want to get into the playoffs.
"Probably, this is as close as it's going to get for us. This is kind of our playoffs right now anyway. It's do or die. We've got to keep winning games. I like the way we stepped up and competed tonight."
Capitals forward Mathieu Perreault who tied the scores at 2-2 early in the final period said after the game.
"Both teams played really hard and there's the fight to get into the playoffs, too, so it was a big game,"
The Jets were impressive throughout the game as they got first blood. At 11:08 forward Andrew Ladd put Winnipeg ahead with a wonderful backhand shot to beat Capitals goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
It took Washington just 22-seconds to equalise as Brooks Laich struck his shot past Ondrej Pavelec.
Winnipeg though, were not going to let the game remain level for long and after dominating the second period as they outshot Washington 14-6, the Jets regained the lead through Nik Antropov at 16:10.
Mathieu Perreault’s third period power play goal got the score back on level terms but this was one of the games where there is only one winner.
Dustin Byfuglien answered his team’s call with a winner in the sixth minute to help the Jets continue to challenge for the playoffs.
Washington will now look to get their momentum back on track on Sunday against Chicago Blackhawks while the Jets face Carolina Hurricanes at home ice.
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