Hellebuyck makes 32 saves, Jets defeat Oilers in Game 1

EDMONTON -- Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves for the Winnipeg Jets in a 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup First Round at Rogers Place on Wednesday.

Dominic Toninato scored the tiebreaking goal at 9:14 of the third period for the Jets, who are the No. 3 seed in the Scotia North Division. Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler each had a goal and an assist for Winnipeg.
"I just thought it was a good team game tonight," Hellebuyck said. "Our details were right, and our offensive game came when it needed to. It was a great team win tonight."
Jesse Puljujarvi scored, and Mike Smith made 18 saves for the Oilers, the No. 2 seed.

Connor McDavid, who led the NHL with 105 points (33 goals, 72 assists), and Leon Draisaitl, who was second with 84 points (31 goals, 53 assists) each was held without a point for Edmonton.
"I think we had some nerves and some jitters in the first period," McDavid said. "We kind of got through that even, but then I thought we took over in the second and did a lot of good things. We put a lot of pucks on net and hemmed them in there for chunks at a time. You'd like to come out of that period with a lead, but ultimately that wasn't the case. The third period was back and forth, and a tight hockey game, and they get a bounce and that's the way it goes."
Game 2 is here Friday (9 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN).
Teams that win Game 1 are 490-222 (68.8 percent) winning a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, including 7-1 in the first round last season.
"I thought that both teams were actually tentative in some of their play with the puck early, which is understandable," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "It was a little more physical at times so there weren't a lot of plays made. And then neither team generated much off the rush, which is prototypical of playoff hockey. I thought they did a better job getting to our crease and scrumming pucks. Where Connor [Hellebuyck] was really good was within two feet of the blue paint. I think that's an area we have to improve on."
Puljujarvi scored at 8:24 of the second period to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. He was first to a loose puck in front following shot from Tyson Barrie from the point, which was blocked by Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo.
"I think I just tried to work hard and make good plays and play smart," Puljujarvi said. "It was a hard game and hopefully we can win the next one."

Tucker Poolman tied it 1-1 at 11:01, scoring off a rebound on a shot from Wheeler, which bounced off Smith's chest.
Toninato tipped in a shot from the point by Logan Stanley to make it 2-1 at 9:14 of the third period. Play continued as it appeared the shot hit the crossbar, but a review by the NHL Situation Room determined the puck crossed the goal line.
"It's an exciting time and I'm just happy to help the team out," Toninato said. "It was a good team win tonight, but it was only one of four. We have to be ready to go for the next game."
Toninato was in the lineup for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, who sustained an undisclosed injury in the final regular-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.
Toninato played in the final two games of the season for the Jets and scored his first NHL playoff goal.
"If you're going to have success in the playoffs you're going to have guys step up," Wheeler said. "I think [Toninato] since he's been playing for us the last few games has really opened some eyes and has just been a great asset for us. It's huge to get contributions from your entire lineup and those guys some confidence for sure."
Connor scored into an empty net at 18:13 and Wheeler scored an empty-net goal at 18:45 for the 4-1 final.
"It's playoff hockey, it's tight," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said. "They got a break on the winning goal and the first empty-net goal, it hits the referee. That's the way things go, it's going to be tight and you have to capitalize on some chances. There are some things we can do better, some execution things, but that's how it's going to be, it's going to be tight hockey."
NOTES: McDavid scored 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in nine games against the Jets this season. It was the most points by a player against one opponent since 1987-88, when Denis Savard of the Chicago Blackhawks scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in eight games against the Minnesota North Stars. … The Jets played without Nikolaj Ehlers, who tied for third on Winnipeg with 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 47 games. The forward missed the final nine games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. … Ehlers and Dubois took part in the ' morning skate but each wore a non-contact jersey.