Lowry, Connor propel Jets to 7-6 playoff win over Avalanche

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Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) scores against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) celebrates his goal against the Colorado Avalanche with teammates Mark Scheifele (55) and Josh Morrissey (44) during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Winnipeg Jets’ Alex Iafallo (9) and David Gustafsson (19) celebrate a goal by Vladislav Namestnikov (7) on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) celebrates a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Winnipeg Jets fans cheer after their team scored against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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CORRECTS TO COLORADO AVALANCHE ASSISTANT COACH NOLAN PRATT NOT HEAD COACH JARED BEDNAR - A Winnipeg Jets fan, upper center, dances in a polar bear outfit behind Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Nolan Pratt, center left, during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) watches the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Brandon Duhaime (12) looks for a rebound during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele (55) scores against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammate Zach Parise (9) during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Colorado Avalanche Miles Wood (28) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammates Jack Johnson (3), Caleb Jones (82) and Joel Kiviranta (94) during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Captain Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each scored twice to propel the Winnipeg Jets to a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

“He loves these challenges,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said of Lowry. “He’s going up against one of the best players in the world, not necessarily the league, but the world in Nate (Nathan MacKinnon). So, he loves those challenges and he takes his game to another level.”

MacKinnon, who had a goal and one assist, was second in league scoring with 140 points during the regular season.

“That’s our captain, man. He’s a gamer,” Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon said of Lowry. “The physicality, he plays against the top guys every night. Sometimes when it seems like our group doesn’t have it, he’s able to pull us into the fight.”

Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists and Josh Morrissey registered a goal and assist. Vladislav Namestnikov also scored. Brenden Dillon, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter each added a pair of assists and Connor picked up one helper.

There were 100 hits in the game, with the Avalanche having a 54-46 edge.

Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg, left, celebrates his goal, next to Vancouver Canucks' Noah Juulsen during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Forsberg and Beauvillier each get a goal and an assist and Predators knock off Canucks 4-1

Colorado Avalanche Zach Parise (9) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Josh Manson (42) and Yakov Trenin (73) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Avalanche score 4 in 2nd period, beat Jets 5-2 and even first-round playoff series at 1-1

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) and Martin Fehervary (42) protect the net from New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin (10) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Rangers win 4-3 over Capitals for 2-0 series lead

Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves for the Jets, who are on a nine-game win streak.

Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for Colorado. Artturi Lehkonen notched a goal and one assist. Valeri Nichushkin, Miles Wood and Casey Mittelstadt also scored. Mikko Rantanen chipped in with two helpers.

“Unfortunately, all the mistakes that we made ended up in the back of our net,” Makar said. “That’s just the way she goes sometimes. A couple things to clean up and then turn the page.”

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 16 of the 23 shots he faced for Colorado, which is trying to repeat its 2022 Stanley Cup-championship run. He was backed up by Arvid Holm instead of Justus Annunen, who wasn’t at the morning skate.

It was the first time the two teams have met in the NHL playoffs.

The Avalanche came into the series having lost all three regular-season games against Winnipeg.

“We played extremely hard,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “We did a lot of good things. You don’t get six (goals) on the Jets without doing that.

“We also made some mistakes that they capitalized on. Too many, obviously tonight, and it ends up costing us the hockey game.”

The first period ended in a 3-3 tie, including the teams combining to score three goals in 66 seconds.

“It’s not the way we drew it up, a 7-6 game, but sometimes you’ve just got to play that game that’s in front of you,” Connor said. “It turned into a bit of a track meet there and we know we’ve got to be better.”

The teams then combined for four goals in just under four minutes.

Lowry got the only goal of the second period.

Lowry’s second goal of the game had to be reviewed as the puck hit one post, went across and hit the other post and then slid along the goal line and hit the post again before bouncing out. It counted as crossing the line at 3:31.

Mark Scheifele’s first-period goal was his 20th career playoff goal, scored in his 38th game.

Only three active players have reached that mark in fewer games. Alex Ovechkin did it in 26 games, Jake Guentzel in 32 and Connor McDavid in 36 games.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is Tuesday in Winnipeg.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL