Why not make it eight straight wins as the Jets match their best streak from last season which if you are keeping track makes this the 16th straight regulation win by Winnipeg. The power play propelled them to another victory as they struck twice including the game-winning goal. Jets defeat the Flames 5-3 to improve to an incredible 8-0-0 on the season.
For those who would like to take a deeper dive into the advanced stats click here to see the results from the game via Natural Stat Trick.
Notable:
We weren’t sure who would be in net but in warm-up learned that Eric Comrie would be making his second start of the year with Connor Hellebuyck getting the night off. It was an unfortunate start for both the Jets and Comrie as the top line was a bit uncertain and the Flames opened the scoring with a weird angle shot on their first shot of the game to give Calgary a quick lead.
But less than a minute and a half later the Flames took a penalty which is a mistake against the top power play in the NHL which scored just seven seconds into the man advantage when Nikolaj Ehlers tried a cross-seam pass which deflected in off Calgary defenceman Rasmus Andersson to tie the game. That was Ehlers 4th goal of the season.
We spoke to Jon Goyens on today’s Illegal Curve Hockey Show about using Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele on the penalty kill (which you can watch here) and sure enough late in the opening period Connor finished off a Lowry pass to score a shorthanded goal to give Winnipeg a 2-1 lead. Six goals for number 81 in eight games as he continues to find the back of the net.
Winnipeg finished the 1st with a 16-6 shot edge but that wouldn’t last as Calgary reversed things in the middle frame outshooting the visitors 12-4 which also featured another awkward goal after the Jets blew a chance to clear the puck. All tied 2-2 after 40 minutes.
One positive was through 40 minutes the Jets had killed all four penalties they had taken.
The weird goals continued in the 3rd as Dylan Samberg scored off a bank shot that hit the back glass, then Dustin Wolff’s back and ended up in the back of the net. He now has 2G in 8GP which is a 20 goal pace. Last year he had one goal in 78 games. His career high was 2 in 63 games two seasons ago. Guess he’s up to the challenge of matching Brenden Dillon’s eight from last season.
After Nazem Kadri tied the game the Jets had a 5 on 3 late in the 3rd but could not beat Dustin Wolf who was spectacular for the Flames. But you don’t win back-to-back AHL goalie of the Year awards by accident.
Cole Perfetti struck for the Jets to make it 4-3 for Winnipeg as the lethal power play strikes again. It was a perfect shot by 91.
And then Mason Appleton sealed the deal with an empty netter to make it 5-3 for Winnipeg. And in the battle of Rasmus Andersson’s death stare vs this Jets fan the winner is clear.
Multipoint Game:
Kyle Connor 1G 1A
Mason Appleton 1G 1A
Neal Pionk 2A
Adam Lowry 2A
Nino Niederreiter 2A
Highlights:
Player/Coach post-game media:
Illegal Curve Post-Game Show:
Up next:
The Jets will be back in Winnipeg tomorrow following three games on the road as they get back to town for a single home game (Monday against the Leafs) before they head right back out on the road. Begin your day with all the latest Jets and Moose news in the AM Papers on illegalcurve.com which are available starting at 7 AM CDT..
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