Lee Stempniak scores Winnipeg’s first Stanley Cup playoff goal since 1996 (Video)
That sound you heard earlier Monday night? It was probably eminating from MTS Arena in Winnipeg, where the Jets hosted a Stanley Cup Playoff game for the first time since 1996 when they faced off against the Anaheim Ducks.
Scoring the first playoff goal for Jets 2.0? That would be Lee Stempniak, who gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead midway through the first period of Game 3 and caused the decibel levels to spike.
Nineteen years ago next Tuesday, Norm McIver scored the final goal in the history of Jets 1.0 before the franchise moved to Phoenix to become the Coyotes. Since the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipe in 2011, Jets 2.0 failed to reach the playoffs until this season.
Despite the franchise history not connecting, the Jets and their fans brought back the whiteout tradition (even as the team wore their blue jerseys) and the arena looked like Winnipeg Arena of the 1990s.
Fans got creative in their whiteout attire, like this guy, who dressed as the Queen:
The Ducks would end up spoiling the whiteout party with a 5-4 overtime victory to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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