The Winnipeg Jets’ skid kept rolling Sunday night, and the special teams issues were once again front and center in a 5-1 loss to the Panthers in Winnipeg.
It was the Jets’ sixth straight defeat, dropping them to 0-4-2, and the game was effectively out of reach before the first period was halfway done. Florida scored three goals in a span of 2 minutes and 51 seconds, with the first two coming 1:15 apart and the third following 1:36 later. Two of those goals came on the power play.
The Jets did get one bright moment when captain Adam Lowry scored in the second period. That goal moved him into a tie with former captain Thomas Steen for second on the all-time Jets list with 13 shorthanded goals. Based on the source material, 17 would likely be the number that ends his career in that spot, since Doug Smail’s total of 25 looks out of reach.
Any hope of a push back from Winnipeg was quickly snuffed out, though. Florida answered with its third power-play goal of the night on the same man advantage, stretching the lead to 4-1 and shutting the door on any comeback attempt.
The Panthers added one more goal before it was over, piling on late and making the final score look even harsher.
The Jets are now set to practice before heading to Tampa Bay to begin a difficult four-game road trip. Tomorrow’s Morning Papers are scheduled for 7 AM CST, followed by the Practice Report.
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Panthers Look Dangerous For One Big Reason After Jets Rout
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The Jets did at least get a response from Adam Lowry, whose short-handed goal survived an immediate review by league officials in Toronto, but it only offered a brief jolt in a game Florida was already steering its way. With the teams set to meet again later in the week, Winnipeg will be left sorting out how to slow a Panthers club that looked comfortable dictating the pace from the start. [Read more 🡒]