Joe Morrow lifts Jets over Wild in Game 1 of NHL playoff series

Defenceman Joe Morrow scored at 12:47 of the third period to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday in Game 1 of their first-round NHL playoff series.

It was the first post-season victory for the franchise dating all the way back to 1999 when the team was the Atlanta Thrashers. The club relocated to Winnipeg in 2011 and the Jets were swept out of the playoffs by Anaheim in 2015.

Winnipeg winger Nikolaj Ehlers set up the game-winning goal when he got the puck behind the net and sent it to Morrow at the point, who fired a one-timer that beat Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk.

Morrow was acquired at the trade deadline from Montreal in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Mark Schiefele, with a power-play goal, and Patrik Laine also scored for Winnipeg, which hosts Game 2 Friday.

Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves for the Jets, who finished second overall in the NHL and Central Division with 114 points (52-20-10).

Minnesota got goals from Matt Cullen and Zach Parise. Dubnyk stopped 37 shots for the Wild, who were third in the division with 101 points (45-26-11).

Laine tied the game 2-2 at 4:51 of the third period, putting a high wrist shot past Dubnyk on the glove side.

Fans are primed for these playoffs. The ‘whiteout’ crowd of more than 15,000 were chanting “Go Jets Go” and waving white towels before the puck even dropped. Next door to Bell MTS Place, a block was closed for a street party, highlighted by the game shown on two giant screens for fans in the NHL’s smallest market.

Minnesota is competing in its sixth straight post-season. Last year, the Wild lost its first-round series to St. Louis in five games.

Winnipeg outshot the visitors 13-4 in the scoreless first period. Dubnyk had to make a couple of big saves in the last three minutes, including a pair from close in by Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Copp.

The Jets had the game’s first power play 24 seconds into the middle period after Minnesota centre Eric Staal was called for tripping.

Dubnyk made a save on a blast from Scheifele, while two of Laine’s trademark blasts from the right circle went wide of the net and the other was blocked by Nate Prosser’s arm.

Byfuglien was sent to the box six minutes later for roughing and Minnesota put a few shots at Hellebuyck, but it was the Jets who capitalized on their second chance with the man advantage.

Twenty seconds after Prosser was called for holding, Blake Wheeler sent a pass to an open Scheifele in the slot for his one-time at 17:37.

The Wild outshot the Jets 12-8 in the second.

Cullen took a backhand pass from Jordan Wheeler and beat Hellebuyck on the blocker side at 1:46 of third period to tie it 1-1.

Parise quickly put the visitors ahead at 3:58 on a two-on-one with Mikael Granlund after a Winnipeg turnover.

Laine’s tying goal was delivered 53 seconds later after Jets centre Paul Stastny absorbed a hit to give Laine some time and space.

Morrow’s goal brought the fans to the feet, who also stood for the last few minutes as Minnesota pulled Dubnyk to get the extra attacker.