Mark Scheifele delivered the difference late, and the Winnipeg Jets walked away with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night at Canada Life Centre.
Scheifele’s go-ahead goal came on the power play with 2 seconds left in regulation, capping a wild third period after Winnipeg had built a 3-0 lead. Cole Perfetti started the scoring at 1:53 of the second period on a power play, finishing a setup from Scheifele and Haydn Fleury. Morgan Barron pushed the Jets ahead 2-0 at 12:38 of the second, and Brayden Yager added another power-play goal at 8:10 of the third to make it 3-0.
Tampa Bay answered fast and almost erased the whole thing in a hurry. Brandon Hagel got the Lightning on the board at 10:22 of the third, then Pontus Holmberg scored twice in 26 seconds - first at 14:01 and again at 14:27 - to tie it at 3-3.
That set the stage for Scheifele’s winner at 19:58, with Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi picking up the assists.
Perfetti finished with a goal and an assist, while Scheifele also had a goal and an assist. Viggo Björck added two assists, Barron and Yager each scored, and Stuart Skinner stopped 18 of 21 shots for Winnipeg.
Holmberg led Tampa Bay with two goals, Erik Cernak had two assists, and Hagel also scored. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves on 25 shots.
Winnipeg outshot Tampa Bay 25-21, went 3 for 5 on the power play, and held the Lightning scoreless on four chances. The Jets improved to 7-8-3 and have won three straight, sitting 10th in the Western Conference. The Lightning fell to 11-4-2 and remain fourth in the Eastern Conference.
The season series is even at 1-1 after Tampa Bay won the first meeting 6-4 on Oct. 29.
The Jets host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Lightning visit the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Jets May Have Found A Hellebuyck Trade Piece Worth Watching
The Connor Hellebuyck trade may have given the Jets more than just a headline, because Alexander Command is already drawing attention as a prospect worth tracking. Originally taken 12th overall by New Jersey in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Swedish forward has been praised by NHL Draft analyst Chris Peters and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff for a mix of offensive skill, physical play, competitiveness and self-awareness.
Command is expected to keep developing in the Swedish Hockey League, even with NCAA programs showing interest, and he should also be in the mix for Swedens under-20 team at the World Juniors. For Winnipeg, that makes him the kind of piece that can be easy to overlook in a blockbuster deal at first glance, but hard to ignore once the long-term upside starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Hellebuycks Winnipeg Return Just Got More Awkward For Everyone
Connor Hellebuycks first return trip to Winnipeg was always going to carry some extra weight, but the Devils have taken the emotion out of the crease for now. New Jersey general manager Sunny Mehta said the club will not start Hellebuyck in the upcoming game against the Jets, explaining the choice as one made to protect the teams expected win probability rather than to indulge the storyline.
Hellebuyck, who was traded from Winnipeg to New Jersey in October, had wanted to play in the matchup, which only adds to the awkwardness of a night that already had plenty of it. He is scheduled to speak with the media after the morning skate, where the focus will turn to his trade request and the circumstances that pushed him out of Winnipeg in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Hellebuyck Is Bringing A Painful New Reality Back To Winnipeg
Connor Hellebuycks latest stop with the New Jersey Devils keeps looking more comfortable by the night. He turned in his first shutout for the club in a 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Timo Meier scoring twice and Nico Hischier and Connor Brown adding goals as New Jersey stretched its run to nine wins in its last 10 games.
For Winnipeg, the timing adds another layer to an already uncomfortable reminder. Hellebuyck has settled in quickly since the move, and his next game will send him back into the building where the Jets will have to face the goaltender they once leaned on so heavily, now wearing different colors and carrying plenty of momentum with him. [Read more 🡒]