The Winnipeg Jets are back at work Thursday night, and the mood around the team is suddenly very different after Tuesday’s “Miracle in Montreal.”
Winnipeg had Wednesday off after returning to the city, and now the focus shifts to Vancouver, with morning skate set for 10:30 AM CDT and puck drop scheduled for 7 PM CDT. The club will be looking to see whether that stunning comeback can actually mean something beyond one wild night.
That’s the big question hanging over the Jets after they snapped a nine-game losing streak in Montreal. Sportsnet framed it as a possible confidence boost, but also pointed out the obvious: there are still real concerns around special teams and whether Winnipeg can climb back into the playoff picture.
The Winnipeg Free Press took a similar line, saying the team needs to use the result as a springboard and warning that the worst outcome would be to come out flat against the Canucks or fail to carry it into Sunday against the Bolts. Another Free Press piece called the comeback historic, noting that Winnipeg accomplished something never done before in NHL history.
There’s plenty of other movement around the organization, too. Brad Lambert cleared waivers yesterday after being placed on them for the first time in his career and was assigned to the Moose. It’s been a rough start to the season for the 2022 first-rounder, but the move gives him a chance to find his scoring touch again with a Manitoba team that leads the AHL in goals scored.
The Moose were back on the ice for practice yesterday as they get ready for tomorrow’s game against the Marlies in Winnipeg. They also added Jets defence prospect Garrett Brown, who was loaned to Manitoba while he continues working toward his season debut after getting hurt at the prospect tournament in September.
Brown is still wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, but he is making progress. Manitoba is scheduled to practice again today at 10:30 AM CDT.
Former Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck also addressed fans yesterday, releasing a letter on Instagram nearly two weeks after his trade to New Jersey. In the message, he acknowledged the frustration around his departure, referred to private family circumstances and thanked fans for their support.
The reaction has been mixed, and many have been underwhelmed by what he said. With the Devils coming to Winnipeg next week, it remains to be seen whether he says anything else, though the expectation is that this is probably the end of it.
On the prospect front, Oakbank, Manitoba’s Owen Martin kept rolling for Spokane. The 2025 third-round pick had two goals and an assist, including the overtime winner, giving him 11 goals in 10 games for the Chiefs. That’s a huge jump from the 26 goals he scored in 65 games last season.
The Jets’ comeback also drew plenty of video reaction. Global News featured John Shannon discussing the win, the lack of organizational change during the losing streak and why he believes Viggo Björck should spend some time with the Manitoba Moose. TSN also took a deeper look at the rally, which saw Winnipeg come back from down 4-0 with under three minutes left in regulation before finishing the job in overtime and ending the nine-game skid.
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Tyrell Bauer was part of the turnaround too, scoring his first NHL goal in a game that already had the feel of a season-shifting swing for Winnipeg. The Jets did not just survive the late push, they kept pressing until the final moment, and the result left Montreal with a collapse it will not soon forget while giving Winnipeg a rare road win to build on. [Read more 🡒]