Jets fans expected to 'blow the roof off' MTS Centre for playoffs
Winnipeg has been waiting 18 years, 11 months and 21 days to watch an NHL playoff game at home.
Tonight, that changes.
Even though the hometown Jets have already played two playoff games against the Anaheim Ducks — and now trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series — tonight's contest is the one Winnipeg fans have been waiting for since the NHL returned to the city in 2011.
Kimberly Weihs says there was a debate in her family about who would get the two tickets they have.
"In our household we had two tickets and I have two little boys who wanted to go too. But we told them yesterday, we finally told them, 'you know what? Mummy and Daddy have been waiting a little bit longer than you've even been alive for this playoff game, so we're going to be the ones going. You guys get to go next time'."
Weihs was at the Jets Store buying Whiteout gear for her whole family.
Andrew Lussier was also at the store. He was buying Whiteout shirts as a surprise for his six year old son. Lussier did the near impossible—he got two tickets to tonight's game.
"I put an ad on Kijiji and I said wanted tickets for the game. I want to take my six year old son, he's a AAA Mustang, and he wanted to go to the game.So I found them on Kijiji. Some guy called me and said meet me in an hour. Paid three hundred bucks for two seats. I can't wait to go," he said.
The pent-up excitement has the potential to explode decibel readers, say fans, former players and hockey insiders.
The Storm is Here! Tonight we take back what is ours. OUR TEAM, OUR TRADITION. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash">#GoJetsGo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPGWhiteout?src=hash">#WPGWhiteout</a> <a href="http://t.co/ysWo2SIBhK">pic.twitter.com/ysWo2SIBhK</a>
—@NHLJetsI believe the people of Winnipeg may blow the roof off their fine building tonight. Good luck to Paul Maurice <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goodman?src=hash">#goodman</a>
—@16DarcyTuckerSo the return of the Stanley Cup playoffs to WPG should be an event tonight. Smallest NHL crowd will no doubt make the biggest noise.
—@TSNBobMcKenzieFired up to see the fans in Winnipeg tonight. It is going to be electric and should get the Jets going! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whiteout?src=hash">#whiteout</a> <a href="http://t.co/GvdmBF1E1D">pic.twitter.com/GvdmBF1E1D</a>
—@Brock_Seguin"You can feel it. It's like the building is rumbling." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLJets?src=hash">#NHLJets</a> prep for Game 3, talk <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPGWhiteout?src=hash">#WPGWhiteout</a> & more. READ > <a href="http://t.co/3BTjuCW8Oi">http://t.co/3BTjuCW8Oi</a>
—@NHLJetsAlright its Winnipeg Jets Playoffs game day for the first time in over 19 years! Bring on the whiteout!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash">#GoJetsGo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPGWhiteout?src=hash">#WPGWhiteout</a>
—@JackieCaron1The city of Winnipeg makes its triumphant return to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLPlayoffs?src=hash">#NHLPlayoffs</a> tonight. If it gets as loud as the old barn, that will be nuts!
—@brawdon77If you're Canadian and not a little excited for the city of Winnipeg tonight you may just not be Canadian <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPGWhiteout?src=hash">#WPGWhiteout</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLJets">@NHLJets</a>
—@DaveMurYYCTonight, the streets of Winnipeg should be a ghost town during the game. Welcome home <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLJets?src=hash">#NHLJets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash">#GoJetsGo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nhlplayoffs?src=hash">#nhlplayoffs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wpgwhiteout?src=hash">#wpgwhiteout</a>
—@Mike_NealeBut not everyone was on the bandwagon. At least one Minnesota Wild fan was feeling a bit jealous.
Tired of hearing "a home game in Winnipeg will be the loudest building in the playoffs". Guarantee the X is louder, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CanadienBias?src=hash">#CanadienBias</a>
—@MinnesotaWiIdAnd another has just had enough of the Winnipeg chatter.
<a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger">@DarrenDreger</a> enough Winnipeg talk , we get it already
—@Sneed26But for those who can't get enough, here's a throwback to the last time the NHL playoffs were in Winnipeg, April 28, 1996.
After being eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings, the franchise was moved to Phoenix and rebranded as the Coyotes.
The last <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL?src=hash">#NHL</a> playoff game in Winnipeg in its entirety: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OriginalJets?src=hash">#OriginalJets</a> vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedWings?src=hash">#RedWings</a>, April 28, 1996. <a href="https://t.co/FfMvbl44uR">https://t.co/FfMvbl44uR</a>
—@NHLhistorygirl