Avalanche stall Jets: Winnipeg eliminated from playoffs

It’s deja vu for Winnipeg Jets fans — and that’s not a good thing.

For the second year in a row, the Jets are out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after five games.

And just like last year against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Jets lost four in a row versus the Colorado Avalanche after a Game 1 win.

The visiting Avs finished the series with a 6-3 win over the Jets on Tuesday.

Mikko Rantanen broke a 3-3 tie early in the third period, just over two minutes after Tyler Toffoli had evened things up for Winnipeg.

Rantanan added the insurance goal later in the third.

The loss came on the heels of two blowout losses in Denver. Several players questioned coach Rick Bowness’ gameplan after a Game 4 setback.

Bowness and the club have a mutual option for the third year of his deal next season.

The playoff disappointment for the Jets came after a much-improved regular season, which saw Winnipeg finish second in the Central Division.

There also was optimism at the start of the year after the Jets signed star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and forward Mark Scheifele to seven-year extensions.

But Winnipeg’s league-leading defence was nowhere to be found in the playoffs, with Colorado scoring five or more goals each game.

The Avalanche will face the winner of the Dallas Stars-Golden Knights series. That series is tied at 2-2.