The Winnipeg Jets’ surge in Tampa Bay never quite got all the way there, and a night that started with a hole only got deeper before the comeback nearly caught fire. Winnipeg dropped a 6-4 decision to the Lightning, with the loss extending the club’s skid to seven games at 0-5-2.
This one had plenty of turning points, starting with the Jets again spotting the opponent the first goal. It was the ninth time in 13 games this season Winnipeg surrendered the opening tally, a pattern that has made life hard from the opening puck drop.
By the end of 20 minutes, the game was level at 1-1. By the end of the second, it had unraveled into a 5-1 Tampa Bay lead. The middle frame was as rough as it got for Winnipeg, with mental mistakes piling up and turning a manageable game into a heavy deficit.
There was one notable milestone before all of that chaos unfolded: Neal Pionk played in his 600th NHL game.
The Jets also started with a different look up front, separating Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor for the first time in a while in an effort to spread the offence around. That adjustment didn’t prevent the early damage, but Winnipeg did find a way to scratch back once the game looked out of reach.
Nico Daws unexpectedly came in to begin the third period after Skinner was pulled for mercy. From there, the Jets began to chip away.
Dylan Samberg got in on the act with a redirection off a pass from Cole Perfetti, a finish that fit the chemistry of the two former roommates. It was part of an unusual offensive burst from the blue line.
Through the first 11 games of the season, Winnipeg had managed just three goals from its defensemen, according to Dan Robertson on the broadcast. By the time this game hit its late stages, the Jets had already matched that total in Tampa Bay, with three defense goals on the night.
Had the Mario Ferraro goal counted, that number would have climbed to four.
Kyle Connor then did what Kyle Connor does, blasting home his 10th goal of the season to pull Winnipeg within 5-4 and make the comeback feel alive. But the finish never fully materialized. The Jets’ 6-on-4 looked disjointed, Tampa Bay wasn’t forced into much trouble, and the Lightning eventually took the puck the other way and scored into the empty net to seal the 6-4 final.
So the rally came up short, and the skid rolls on at seven straight.
Up next, the Jets head to Sunrise tomorrow for a second meeting with the Panthers in four days.
In Other News...
Devils Are About To Learn How Real Their Goalie Upgrade Is
Connor Hellebuyck wasted little time making an impression in New Jersey, turning aside 17 shots in his Devils debut on Tuesday and helping them roll past the Dallas Stars 5-1. The deal that brought him over from Winnipeg on Oct. 23 was a major swing by the Devils, who paid a significant price to land a proven goalie as they tried to stabilize the position and change the tone in net.
The early returns have already given New Jersey a glimpse of what it bought, even if the larger evaluation is still just getting started. The Devils followed that win with a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, a reminder that one strong night from a new goalie does not settle everything, and the next few games will say plenty about how real this upgrade actually is. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Suddenly Have A Nino Niederreiter Problem To Solve
Nino Niederreiter has become a name to watch in Winnipeg as the Jets weigh their next move with the veteran forward. He is in the final year of his contract, does not have no-trade protection and has seen his recent production dip compared with previous seasons, which has naturally put him on the radar as the club looks at ways to manage its roster and salary structure.
The Jets have already had conversations with multiple teams about Niederreiter, so this is not just background noise. Even so, the situation is still very much in flux, with no deal considered close and one of the key questions being whether Winnipeg would need to keep part of his salary to get something done. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Face Mounting Pressure As Losing Streak Follows Them To Florida
The road trip has not given the Jets much room to breathe, and now it carries them into Sunrise with the pressure only building. Winnipeg is trying to snap a seven-game losing streak against a Panthers team that has been off since its latest win and is just getting started on a three-game homestand, leaving the Jets to deal with a tough turnaround in a difficult building.
For a club already searching for answers, the bigger concern may be what the losing streak has done to the rest of the lineup. The offense has been struggling to find traction, and the injury list has only made the climb steeper as Winnipeg keeps pushing through the trip. The Jets need something to change fast, because the margin for error is disappearing with every game. [Read more 🡒]