Friday, April 19, 2024
-The Winnipeg Jets wrapped up the NHL regular season by beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 Thursday night. It was the team’s 8th win in-a-row, a season high that matched a franchise record. The Jets also matched a franchise-record regular season win total with 52, earned the crown as Canada’s best team with 110 points, and won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing a league-low 199 points. Winnipeg will host the Colorado Avalanche Sunday at 6:00 pm in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal.
-The NHL post-season actually begins Saturday with the Maple Leafs in Boston against the Bruins, the Carolina Hurricanes will host the New York Islanders, the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Florida Panthers, and the New York Rangers entertain the Washington Capitals.
-The defending Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Steinbach Pistons are home to the Winkler Flyers tonight in Game 1 of the Turnball Cup Final. Last year, the Pistons beat the Flyers in the opening round of the playoffs. Steinbach has won the league championship in 2013, 2018 and 2023 – while this is the Flyers first trip to the final in 22 years. Winkler won the league title in 1991, 1992 and 1998.
-Sport Manitoba’s annual Night of Champions was held Thursday at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in Winnipeg. Greg Dzioba (Winnipeg) from Table Tennis was recognized as the Official of the Year. Resby Coutts (Winnipeg) from Curling was honored as the Volunteer of the Year. Canadian Novice Men’s Champion David Howes (Winnipeg) from Figure Skating is the Athlete of the Year. Canadian curling champions and World bronze medalists Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Briane Harris are the Team of the Year. The Coach of the Year is Gabrielle Wishart (Portage la Prairie) from Volleyball.
-and the Toronto Blue Jays open a weekend series in San Diego against the Padres today.
