Spring whiteout hits downtown Winnipeg as thousands take to street for start of Jets’ playoff run [Video]

NHL playoff fever had the streets of downtown Winnipeg buzzing on Saturday, with thousands of fans flocking to watch their home team in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

On the ice at the Canada Life Centre, the Winnipeg Jets are facing the St. Louis Blues in the first match of their best-of-seven series.

Outside the downtown arena in the hours leading up to the 5 p.m. puck drop, Jets fans painted a stretch of Donald Street white for the first whiteout street party of the season, a sold-out event with a capacity of 5,000. Another 1,200 were expected for the Party in the Plaza at True North Square, which is also sold out for Game 1.

The spring whiteout brought fans from near and far, including one who travelled roughly 15,000 kilometres to watch the Jets play.