The Winnipeg Jets erased a four-goal deficit and left the United Center with a 5-4 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
Chicago came out flying and built a 4-0 lead before Winnipeg started chipping away. Tyler Bertuzzi got the Blackhawks on the board first at 1:48 of the opening period, finishing a setup from Oliver Moore and Connor Bedard.
Anton Frondell added another at 9:07, then Bedard struck on the power play at 19:56 to make it 3-0 after one. Frank Nazar pushed it to 4-0 with a power-play goal at 14:44 of the second.
From there, the Jets turned the game into a comeback. Mark Scheifele cut into the lead at 16:05 of the second period, Kyle Connor followed at 18:01, and Cole Perfetti brought Winnipeg within one just 55 seconds into the third on the power play. Gabriel Vilardi finished the rally at 18:47 of the third, tying it 4-4 and forcing overtime.
Neither side found the winner in overtime, and Winnipeg finished the job in the shootout.
Scheifele led the way for the Jets with a goal and three assists. Connor added a goal and an assist, Vilardi had a goal and an assist, and Perfetti scored as well. Nico Daws made 12 saves, stopping 12 of 13 shots.
For Chicago, Bedard posted a goal and an assist, while Teuvo Teravainen and Sam Rinzel each had two assists. Bertuzzi, Frondell and Nazar all scored, and Spencer Knight made 27 saves on 31 shots.
Winnipeg outshot Chicago 31-21, went 1 for 4 on the power play, and improved to 10-8-3. The Jets are sixth in the Western Conference and have won six straight.
Chicago went 2 for 2 on the power play and fell to 5-13-2. The Blackhawks are 14th in the Western Conference.
The season series is tied 1-1 after Chicago’s 4-3 win in the first meeting on Oct. 15.
The Jets host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Blackhawks host the Toronto Maple Leafs that same night at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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Zhilkin has already gotten a taste of the NHL with six games under his belt, so this would not be a pure leap of faith if the Jets decide they need another look. The comparison making the rounds is Brayden Yager, who earned a promotion after opening his AHL stint well, and Zhilkins case may only get louder if Winnipegs offense cools off and the club decides it needs to reward the hot hand. [Read more 🡒]
