{"id":96903,"date":"2021-01-08T08:45:56","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T13:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=96903"},"modified":"2021-01-08T09:44:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-08T14:44:48","slug":"unlikely-winnipeg-jets-playoff-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/01\/08\/unlikely-winnipeg-jets-playoff-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlikely Winnipeg Jets Playoff Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Post-season heroes come in all forms, from the star player to the unknown fourth-liner. We all know the exploits of the great playoff performers. However, we hardly hear about the unlikely playoff heroes. These unlikely post-season stars can contribute in many ways. Contributions could be for an entire playoff run, a series, a game or even a goal. These unlikely heroes have made big plays that no one expects. This series looks at all of these unknown stars. These are the unlikely Winnipeg Jets<\/a> playoff heroes.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg Jets Playoff Heroes<\/h2>\n

\u00a0Joseph Morrow<\/h3>\n

Before the Moment<\/h4>\n

During the 2018 trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets sent<\/a> a fourth-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> for bottom-six defenceman, Joseph Morrow<\/a><\/strong>. The Jets received a depth-defenceman to help them down the stretch and into the playoffs. Winnipeg was enjoying their best season in franchise history (including their time as the Atlanta Thrashers) and finished second in the league with 114 points. Morrow played 14:30 a night for them and contributed five points in 18 games.<\/p>\n

At the time, the Jets\/Thrashers franchise had made it to the playoffs twice but were swept both times. It was expected they would get the first Winnipeg Jets playoff win because of how well they performed in the regular season. However, an unexpected hero emerged for their first win.<\/p>\n

The Moment<\/h4>\n

The Jets played the Minnesota Wild<\/a> in the first round of the playoffs. Game 1 was back and forth. Mark Scheifele<\/a><\/strong> opened the scoring for the Jets late in the second period. The Wild answered back in the third from two quick goals by Matt Cullen<\/a><\/strong> and Zach Parise<\/a><\/strong> to take the lead. Morrow poorly defended a two-on-one and left a passing lane behind him open for Parise to receive a pass and score. Patrik Laine<\/a><\/strong> scored a minute after Parise’s goal to tie the game 2-2.<\/p>\n

Morrow made up for his blunder in a big way. With 7:20 left in the third period, Nikolaj Ehlers<\/a><\/strong> dug the puck out of a battle behind the net and passed it to Morrow, who was wide open at the left point. Morrow fired a slapshot that got by Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk<\/a><\/strong> to give the Jets the lead. The Jets held on, and Morrow scored the first game-winning playoff goal in franchise history.<\/p>\n