The Winnipeg Jets didn’t need long to shake off Friday’s overtime disappointment. Two days after dropping their home opener to the Bruins, they went into Detroit and grabbed their first win of the 2026-27 season, hanging on late for a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings.
That result came after a Friday night that had plenty of swings at Canada Life Centre. Dylan DeMelo got Winnipeg on the board first, scoring just five minutes into the game.
Boston answered before the period ended, with Hampus Lindholm and rookie James Hagens both finding the net to flip the game. Kyle Connor then tied it early in the second with a power-play goal, extending his NHL record to nine straight seasons with an opening-game goal.
The Jets briefly seized control from there. Mario Ferraro scored his first goal as a Jet with only 8 seconds left in the second period, sending Winnipeg into the third with a 3-2 lead.
They carried that edge deep into the final frame, but Boston kept pressing. Elias Lindholm tied it with 1:38 left, deflecting in a goal with the Bruins’ net empty.
Then JJ Peterka finished it off in overtime with his second goal of the season, beating the Jets on a rush. Winnipeg outshot Boston 33-30, but left with a 4-3 loss.
Sunday in Detroit started much better for the Jets. Cole Perfetti and Kyle Connor both scored on the power play in the opening 20 minutes, giving Winnipeg a fast two-goal cushion. Connor struck again in the second period for his second goal of the game and third of the season, and all three Jets goals through two periods came with the man advantage.
Detroit answered late in the second when Viktor Arvidsson scored on the power play to keep things alive. The Red Wings kept pushing in the third, but Stuart Skinner held firm early to preserve a 3-1 Jets lead.
Emmitt Finnie then cut it to one with 15 minutes left, putting Winnipeg back under pressure. This time, though, the Jets finished the job and protected the lead the rest of the way.
Winnipeg was outshot 35-27, but it still came away with the 3-2 win. Connor and Perfetti each finished with three points for the Jets.
The schedule doesn’t give Winnipeg much time to enjoy it. The Jets are headed to Pittsburgh next for a game against the Penguins tomorrow night. After that, they’ll get a few days to reset before three straight home games.
For now, the first two games have offered a little bit of everything: power-play production, new faces making an impact, and some early lessons about closing out games. There’s work left to do, but the Jets opened the season with enough good signs to leave their fan base encouraged.
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Red Wings Already Face Pressure To Give Fans Something To Believe In
The Jets are dealing with their own early-season tension after dropping their opener in overtime, but the backdrop around Detroit offers a reminder of how quickly a fan base can turn when the season starts with frustration. The Red Wings opened amid a turbulent offseason that already had supporters on edge, and the first night only deepened the unease around a team trying to convince people it is moving forward.
For Winnipeg, the parallel is hard to miss. Connor Hellebuycks situation has already cast a long shadow over the group, and losing the opener did little to calm things down. With both teams trying to steady themselves before the schedule gets away from them, the next stretch feels less like an early test and more like a search for something fans can actually trust. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkins Red Wings Future Suddenly Feels Far Less Secure
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For the Jets, the Hellebuyck piece matters most because he has been such a central figure in their plans, and any hint of movement around a player of his stature naturally ripples far beyond one roster. The broader story is still taking shape, with some of these situations tied to family considerations or a search for better opportunities, but the fact that several high-profile teammates from that Olympic team are now dealing with uncertainty keeps the league watching for the next shoe to drop. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Just Got An Intriguing Early Look At New Depth
The Manitoba Moose opened their season with a 3-0 win over the Chicago Wolves, and for Winnipeg fans it offered an early glimpse at some organizational depth worth tracking. Noah Gregor delivered the game-winner while marking his 400th professional game, a neat little milestone inside a tidy opening-night result, and the club got contributions from a lineup that looked ready to set a tone from the start.
Domenic DiVincentiis was a major part of that tone, blanking Chicago with a busy night in goal as the Moose kept the Wolves off the board. Kevin He also made his AHL debut in a notable moment for the league, and the Jets system now has an early-season performance that gives both the player development side and the big club reason to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]