Breathe it in, hockey fans. Three overtime elimination games in the Olympic quarterfinals?
That's the kind of day that makes you love this sport even more. And for the Winnipeg Jets faithful, a couple of their own were right in the thick of it.
Out of the four Jets players in Milan, two took the ice yesterday, but only one is moving on. As the dust settles, we now know our semifinal matchups: Josh Morrissey and Team Canada will clash with Finland, while Connor Hellebuyck, Kyle Connor, and Team USA face Slovakia.
Let’s dive into the latest Jets action from Milan.
Nino Niederreiter Scores, Heads Home
Switzerland put up a solid fight, even if they weren't pegged as medal favorites. They had Finland on the ropes with a 2-0 lead heading into the third period of their quarterfinal clash.
Nino Niederreiter gave the Swiss a boost, rocketing a one-timer past Finnish goalie Juuse Saros late in the first period. It was a moment to savor for Nino, though the Finns ultimately prevailed in overtime.
While Niederreiter didn’t fill the stat sheet, he was a catalyst for his team and came close to adding a few more goals. Now, he’s headed back to Winnipeg, ready to gear up for the season's final stretch with the Jets.
Josh Morrissey Eyes Semifinal Return
Team Canada is still the gold medal frontrunner, but they had their hands full with Czechia in the quarters. Losing captain Sidney Crosby to a leg injury in the second period didn’t help their cause.
While Crosby might miss the semifinal against Finland, there’s growing optimism that Josh Morrissey could return on Friday. His presence would bolster Canada’s defense and bring relief to Jets fans back home.
Although the Jets are out of playoff contention, Morrissey’s return could be invaluable for mentoring young talent like Elias Salomonsson, setting the stage for next season.
Connor Hellebuyck Shines for Team USA
In a nail-biter reminiscent of Canada’s overtime win, Team USA edged out Sweden with Connor Hellebuyck making 28 crucial saves. He exuded confidence throughout the game, nearly securing a shutout, and his performance will be key as the Americans face Slovakia in the semifinals.
Hellebuyck needs to maintain this high level of play to keep the USA’s gold medal dreams alive. He’ll be up against a red-hot Slovakia team, led by Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky, fresh off a commanding 6-2 win over Germany.
Kyle Connor Sidelined Again
It seems Kyle Connor’s Olympic journey might be over, with Coach Mike Sullivan opting to scratch him for consecutive critical games. Despite being a top-notch sniper with a strong transitional game, Connor’s skill set doesn’t fit Sullivan’s plans for the bottom six in the remaining matches. While it’s a tough break for Kyle, it could fuel his motivation when he returns to Winnipeg, as the Jets aim to retool for the upcoming season.
With just four games left in Milan, your Jets will soon be back in action against Vancouver on February 25th.