The Winnipeg Jets hosted the Washington Capitals at the Canada Life Centre this evening in Dave Lowry’s first game as the Jets head coach.
This morning was a chaotic one for the Jets. Paul Maurice, who was was in his ninth season as Winnipeg’s head coach, announced his resignation. After Maurice resigned, Kevin Cheveldayoff announced that assistant coach, Dave Lowry, would be the Jets’ interim head coach for the rest of the season.
The Winnipeg Jets started Dave Lowry’s tenure as head coach with a 5-2 loss against the Washington Capitals
The Capitals had the upper hand in the first period, outshooting the Jets 14-8 but neither team could find the game’s opening goal in the first period.
Washington then started the second period strong, scoring two goals in the first nine minutes of the frame. Brett Leagson scored the opening goal and Daniel Sprong doubled the Capitals lead on a wild play.
Moments before Sprong’s goal, the Jets had a great opportunity to score but Vitek Vanecek made an outstanding save to rob Mark Scheifele who was wide open in the slot. The Capitals then worked the puck down the ice and Sprong was able to finish off a great pass from Aliaskei Protas.
The Jets then started to battle back from their two-goal deficit and they threw everything they had at Vanecek. Finally, the Jets were rewarded as Brenden Dillon scored his first goal of the season on a terrific shot from the point, against his former team, to put the Jets within one of the lead.
The third period started with the Jets trailing 2-1 but they were able to tie the game two minutes into the final frame courtesy of a Josh Morrissey powerplay goal. Morrisey received a great pass diagonal pass from Nikolaj Ehlers and he ripped a great shot past Vanecek to tie the contest at two.
The tie only lasted for seven minutes then Connor Sheary scored, in the middle of the period, to reclaim the Capital’s lead. After a point shot from Justin Schultz, the puck bounced off a couple of players in front of the net and found its way to Sheary who tapped the puck into the wide-open net.
The Capitals were able to put the game out of reach when the Jets aggressively pulled Connor Hellebuyck with just under three minutes left in regulation. Michael Sharbossa then scored on the empty net.
Nearly two minutes later, Winnipeg pulled Hellebuyck again and Alex Ovechkin scored another empty net goal for the Capitals to give them a 5-2 lead.
That was it for the scoring in the game as the Capitals played spoiler to Lowry’s debut and beat the Jets 5-2.
Tonight’s loss now puts the Jets on a three-game losing streak. The Jets will look to get back into the win column on Sunday afternoon as they host the St. Louis Blues on home ice.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: What did you think of the Winnipeg Jets performance tonight? Leave your comments below!