Note: The Jets, sans Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morrissey, went into St. Louis last night and pulled off an improbable win based on the need to tie the game with less than a minute to go. An exciting OT didn’t result in a winner but then Kyle Connor, fresh off the disappointment of being sat for the 4 Nations championship game, played hero with an absolute rip upstairs for the game-winning goal. With Eric Comrie stopping all three shots he faced Winnipeg picked up a 4-3 victory in the shootout to become the first team in the NHL to 40 wins. They also set a franchise record with their ninth straight victory. They remain the top team in the NHL. Today they are scheduled to practice at 12 noon. Stay tuned for the Practice Report.
Note II: It may have been overshadowed by the game but worth mentioning again that the Jets got their first UFA signed on Saturday as the team inked Vlad Namestnikov to a two-year contract extension.
Note III: The Moose are in Toronto where they will take on the Marlies as they look to get back in the win column. Puck drop is at 3 PM CST.
Note IV (prospects): Zach Nehring (2023 3rd) finished with 1G 1A for Western Michigan who bounced back with a win. That was his third straight game with a goal and gets him to 10G 11A on the season in 29 games. Markus Loponen (2024 5th) with a toe drag snipe which turned out to be the game-winning goal for Victoria last night. He’s got 16G 22A for 38 points in 55 games.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Jets set franchise record with ninth consecutive victory in shootout win at St. Louis. Seems rather appropriate that the game was won by a Kyle Connor snipe given how he was a healthy scratch for the Americans on Thursday.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets defeat Blues in shootout, extending winning streak to a franchise-record nine games. (Paywall). Wieber gives you his insight into the historic win.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues lose lead late in third period, fall to Jets in 4-3 shootout loss. (Paywall). Check out the game recap from a writer that covers the Jets opponent.
Jets video:
Sportsnet: ‘We have that mentality we can win every game’: Vilardi on Jets win streak. Winnipeg Jets’ Gabriel Vilardi joins Sean Reynolds after a two-goal performance in a winning effort over the Blues, to discuss the chaotic end to the game, the team’s nine-game winning streak and how the team fared after the long break.
Jets audio:
Illegal Curve Hockey Show: Saturday Podcast. It was an action packed Saturday morning as we shared our thoughts on the 4 Nations tournament for the first time, discussed it’s impact on the Jets players that went (and those that didn’t), the extension for Vlad Namestnikov, whether that might mean Winnipeg deals a roster player, trade deadline plans for the Jets and more. We were also joined by Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press.
