Jets End Nine-Game Skid With A Comeback Fans Will Never Forget

The Winnipeg Jets astonish with an unprecedented late-game rally against the Canadiens, setting a new NHL record for comeback triumphs in dramatic style.

The Winnipeg Jets were buried for most of Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, staring down a shutout with under three minutes left in regulation. Then the game flipped on its head in a way that barely seems real.

Winnipeg trailed Montreal by four goals and had gone 57:21 without scoring before Tyrel Bauer finally broke through for his first career goal. That one moment cracked the door open, and the Jets stormed through it. They added three more goals to pull off the latest four-goal comeback in NHL history.

The previous mark belonged to the Los Angeles Kings, who erased a four-goal deficit against Dallas after the 52:46 mark on Nov. 10, 2007. Per the NHL, this was only the fourth time a team had done it after the 50:00 mark, and the first time it had happened in the final five minutes of a game.

Montreal had spent most of the night looking comfortable. Owen Beck, Josh Anderson and Cole Caufield twice put pucks behind the goalie, and Jacob Fowler was working on a shutout before Bauer spoiled it. But once Winnipeg got that first one, the floodgates opened fast.

Morgan Barron scored less than a minute later. Kyle Connor then cut the deficit to one at 19:00, and just 27 seconds after that he struck again for his second goal of the night and 13th of the season. In a span of 2:39 of regulation, the Jets went from lifeless to tied and sent the game to overtime.

They weren’t finished. At 3:30 of overtime, Dylan Samberg buried a snap shot past Fowler to complete the comeback and seal the stunning win. The victory also snapped Winnipeg’s nine-game losing streak, with the team’s last win coming on October 13 in a 5-2 result over Minnesota.

Winnipeg finished with a 47-22 edge in shots, and the game came on Montreal’s first outing in the club’s new Hometown Remix jersey. The Jets will try to carry the momentum into Nov. 5, when they host the Vancouver Canucks.

In Other News...

Jets Just Put Brad Lambert In A Tough Spot

Brad Lamberts season took a sharp turn when the Jets placed the young forward on waivers, opening the door for every other NHL club to take a look. It is the kind of move that says plenty about where a player stands in the pecking order, especially for someone who has been trying to carve out a steadier role while getting limited ice time.

Lambert has had a hard time gaining traction in Winnipeg, with his usage and production both lagging behind what the organization likely hoped for. If he gets through the waiver process, the next stop would be the Manitoba Moose, a chance to reset in the AHL and keep playing regularly while the Jets decide what comes next. [Read more 🡒]

Hellebuyck Faces His First Real Devils Test At Home

Connor Hellebuyck has settled in quickly since landing with the Devils on Oct. 23, giving New Jersey an immediate boost from a goalie with three Vezina Trophies on his rsum. His new teammates and coach Sheldon Keefe have already had plenty of positive things to say about the veteran, and the early returns have matched the reputation. Now the next step is a home debut that should tell a little more about how comfortable he is in his new surroundings.

The assignment is hardly a soft landing, with Edmonton coming in and Connor McDavid looming as the kind of opponent who can stress even the best goaltenders. For the Jets, who know Hellebuyck as well as anyone, it is another reminder of how much his presence can swing a game when the pressure rises and the matchup gets heavier. The real test at home is here, and it comes against one of the league's most dangerous players. [Read more 🡒]

Jets Slide Is Putting Pressure On Winnipegs Next Move

The Jets slide has kept the front office in a familiar spot for this time of year, weighing whether the answer to a rough stretch is patience or another move. After dealing Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg has kept losing, and the pressure around the next step has only grown as the team tries to stop the skid and avoid letting the season drift further off course.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is open to making another trade if the right deal comes along, and the current run has only sharpened the scrutiny on every decision. Scott Arniel is safe for now, but another loss could change the conversation quickly, which is exactly why Winnipegs next move feels so important right now. [Read more 🡒]