Next day takeaways: 3 thoughts as the Winnipeg Jets defeat the Seattle Kraken 3-2 in OT

The Winnipeg Jets picked up their third straight win on Sunday evening, this one of the comeback variety, 3-2 in overtime over the Seattle Kraken. It was a slower start for the Jets who went down 2-0 in the first period, but a few standout performances dragged them back into the game and eventually got them the win in OT. Here’s what to take away from the Jets’ 3-2 win in Seattle.

Dylan Samberg is proving to be an elite defenceman

I wrote about Samberg’s arrival after Winnipeg’s 4-1 win over the Stars on Friday night in which he scored, and somehow, he followed that up with an even better performance last night. 

Samberg picked up the overtime winner, the first OT winner of his career, on a great pass from Cole Perfetti, which capped off an incredible performance from the Jets’ second-pair defenceman. 

He played 20:40 at even-strength last night, and in those minutes, the Jets led in the following categories: 

• Goals: 3-0
• Shot attempts: 31-14
• Shots on goal: 16-3
• Scoring chances: 12-4
• Expected goals percentage: 76.52%

He also led the team in shots on goal with five. 

Scott Arniel was complimentary of the 26-year-old defenceman after the game: “Yeah it was nice to see, he played a lot of minutes and he can be a horse for us when he plays like that.” 

To say that Samberg is having a breakout season would be an understatement at this point. Heading into training camp, there were questions that he might not be ready for a top-four role. Now he’s proving game-in and game-out, that he is an elite defenceman and can be trusted to win his high-leverage minutes. 

His next contract is going to be an interesting one, as I’d imagine the Jets will look to lock him up for the next eight years. It is nights like last night that would make the Jets, and their fans, comfortable about handing out big money to Samberg this offseason. 

Cole Perfetti is getting better by the game

The Jets have had faith in Cole Perfetti all season long, they’ve stuck with him through droughts, and it seems to be paying off in a big way at an important time of the season. 

He finished tonight’s game with a goal late in the first period to get the Jets on the board, and a primary assist on the overtime winner to Dylan Samberg. 

That gives him 14 goals, 28 assists, and 42 points in 62 games played so far this season. 

In his last 17 games, Perfetti has four goals, 10 assists, and 14 points for the Jets, placing him third in scoring behind only Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele over that time. 

The second line of Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti has raised their level of play of late, and Perfetti has played a huge role in that, that line being strong heading into the postseason would be a welcome sight for the Jets coaching staff. 

Eric Comrie dodges injury scare

Early in the first period, Matty Beniers and Dylan DeMelo collided with Eric Comrie and he had to briefly exit the game and Connor Hellebuyck stepped into the crease in relief.

Especially with the collision coming around the head and neck area, there was concern for Comrie as the first period passed by, but he later returned and stopped 14 of 15 shots en route to his ninth win of the season.

“I more just jammed my neck,” Comrie said. “My head was fine. It was more me trying to get my neck and back loosened up.”

Comrie now has an 8-8-1 record on the season, with a 2.39 goals against average and .914 save percentage, and will likely see a few extra starts down the stretch if the Jets can clinch the Western Conference’s number one seed, in which they currently are up 11 points on Dallas for both the West and Central Division.

Up next

The Winnipeg Jets will now travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Tuesday night, looking to extend their winning streak to four. 

I will have on-scene Jets coverage here for Illegalcurve.com from Vancouver, so stay tuned to the website over the coming days for all the Winnipeg Jets coverage you need!