The Winnipeg Jets made it interesting right down to the final seconds, but they still found a way to walk off with a 4-3 win over the Lightning and stretch their winning streak to three.
This was not the cleanest finish, and it definitely was not the easiest path to two points. But Winnipeg kept pushing, and with two seconds left, Mark Scheifele delivered the winner to seal it.
There were a few milestones sprinkled through the night as well. Dylan Samberg hit 300 games, and the acknowledgment on the Jumbotron drew plenty of love from the Winnipeg crowd.
Kyle Connor also moved into a tie with Dale Hawerchuk on the all-time games played list in a Jets uniform, reaching game No. 713 of his career. That puts him eighth on the NHL list and sixth in Jets history.
The game had its lighter moment too, with Jets captain Adam Lowry and Lightning captain Victor Hedman chatting after the first-period buzzer, both making sure to cover their mouths and keep the lip readers guessing.
On the ice, Winnipeg got rolling early. Cole Perfetti scored on the power play for his seventh goal of the season to make it 1-0, and Mark Scheifele kept inching closer to Dale Hawerchuk on the all-time assists and points lists.
Morgan Barron added to the lead with a goal just after a Jets penalty expired, finishing off a Neal Pionk pass to make it 2-0. It was Barron’s third goal, while Viggo Björck picked up his second point of the season and extended his point streak to two games.
Pionk’s production keeps standing out, too. He now has 12 points, with four goals and eight assists, in 18 games, matching last season’s total in 33 fewer games.
Then came another notable moment: Brayden Yager scored his first NHL goal to push Winnipeg ahead 3-0. The goal also gave Viggo Björck his first multi-point game.
Tampa Bay answered with three quick goals, turning the game into a scramble late. Winnipeg then earned a 5-on-3 and made it count, with Scheifele burying the pass from Perfetti with two seconds left to put the Jets back in front for good.
Coach availability is to follow.
The Jets are scheduled to practice tomorrow. The Morning Papers will go live at 7 AM CDT on illegalcurve.com, followed by the Practice Report.
In Other News...
Hellebuycks Winnipeg Return Just Reopened A Frustrating Jets Breakup
Connor Hellebuycks return to Winnipeg has already brought an awkward old chapter back into focus. Now with the New Jersey Devils, the former Jets goaltender spent time with the media in the city where he built so much of his career, thanking the fans and making clear he still has appreciation for the place he once called home. He also revisited the circumstances that led to his trade request, saying personal and family factors were part of the decision to move on.
The on-ice reunion will come with an unexpected wrinkle, since Hellebuyck will not start in the game. He said he disagrees with the choice, even as he has put together a strong record with New Jersey, and the decision only adds another layer to a breakup that never really felt clean in the first place. For Jets fans, it is a reminder that the end of his Winnipeg run was shaped by more than hockey, and the return has reopened questions that were never fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Hellebuyck Just Added A Painful Twist To His Jets Exit
Connor Hellebuycks trade request from the Winnipeg Jets has taken on a more personal edge, with the goaltender saying the decision was shaped by a complicated set of factors rather than one simple grievance. He acknowledged the challenges of being an American player in Canada, but said those issues were not the main reason he wanted out, leaving the impression that there was more behind the move than the usual hockey frustrations.
What he did make clear was that the situation had become difficult enough to involve his family, though he stopped short of going into specifics out of concern for their privacy. Now, with the New Jersey Devils ruling him out of their upcoming game in Winnipeg, the return trip has already taken on an awkward tone, and the full story of what pushed him to that point still remains out of public view. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Must Wait Longer For Connor Hellebuyck's Winnipeg Return
Connor Hellebuycks first trip back to Winnipeg will have to wait a little longer. The Jets announced Jake Allen will get the start in goal against the New Jersey Devils, keeping the former Winnipeg netminder on the sideline for a night that had carried a little extra weight for fans and a few familiar faces in the room. Head coach Scott Arniel and captain Adam Lowry both acknowledged the emotional layer attached to Hellebuycks return, which had been one of the more anticipated storylines around this matchup.
For Winnipeg, it pushes the reunion to a later date and leaves the focus on the goaltending plan in front of a Devils team that still brings plenty of intrigue. The clubs will see each other again later in the season in Newark, giving Hellebuyck another chance to return to a building where he once played a central role. For now, though, Jets fans will have to keep waiting for the full homecoming. [Read more 🡒]