The Winnipeg Jets Lose Two-Goal Lead; Lose in SO to the Penguins

The Winnipeg Jets finished their long eight-game road trip today at PPG Paints Arena with an important game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who entered the game on a four-game winning streak.

The Jets came into this game on a three-game losing streak and were looking to finish this trip on a high note.

The Winnipeg Jets played a physical game from the opening puck drop

At the end of the first period, the Jets had 21 hits compared to the Penguins’ eight hits.

The Winnipeg Jets opened the scoring three minutes and 28 seconds into the game, courtesy of a Blake Wheeler goal. The Jets were quick in transition moving the puck on the ice, and Wheeler got a semi-breakaway after he received a pass from Mark Scheifele. The Jets’ captain then released a great backhand shot over Tristian Jarry’s glove and into the back of the net.

Although neither team scored the rest of the first period, it was extremely fun to watch. Both sides had breakaways and two-on-one chances, but both goalies made some outstanding saves and the Jets ended the first frame up 1-0.

Jarry again started the second period extremely strong and made terrific saves to keep Pittsburgh within one.

Finally, near the middle of the second period, Winnipeg got their first powerplay of the game and made the man advantage count.

The Jets worked the puck around in the offensive zone and the puck went to Kyle Connor who was at the top of the faceoff circle to the right of Jarry’s net. Connor then walked the puck in and fired a wrist shot that went over Jarry’s short side and into the net to extend the Jets’ lead to 2-0.

Pittsburgh controlled the play the rest of the second frame, they had more offensive zone time, while the Jets had one-off chances. The Penguins outshot the Jets 11-5 in the second, but Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets defensive stood strong to take a 2-0 lead into the final twenty minutes of regulation.

Nine Seconds Changes the Game

The third period started the same as the other two periods, but then with thirteen minutes left in the game, the Penguins scored on a Kasperi Kapanen redirection.

The Jets 2-1 lead only lasted a matter of mere seconds. Nine seconds after the Kapanen goal, Jeff Carter scored to tie the game at 2-2.

The Penguins won the faceoff after Kapanen’s goal and then shot the puck deep into the Jets’ defensive zone. Hellebuyck was forced to play the puck and he rimmed the puck into the corner. Carter was first to the puck and delivered a sharp angle shot, on the ice, to the net that caught Hellebuyck off guard and went through his legs.

After the Penguins tied the game, they threw everything that had Hellebuyck’s way and the teams traded chances, but neither team scored and regulation ended tied at 2-2.

The whole overtime had a ferocious pace. Both teams had great scoring opportunities, but both Hellebuyck and Jarry denied their counterparts from scoring and the game required a shootout.

The Shootout

Jake Guentzel started the shootout and Hellebuyck made a blocker save. Kyle Connor was the next shooter and made a backhand move that beat Jarry but hit the crossbar and did not go in.

Sidney Crosby started the second round with a goal between Hellebuyck’s glove and left pad. Then, Mark Scheifele tried to make a move but was denied by Jarry who kept his pad on the far side of the net.

Kris Letang was stopped by Hellebuyck to begin the third round and then Pierre-Luc Dubois stepped up for the Jets in a must-score shot, but unfortunately for the Jets, Dubois was stopped and the Penguins won the shootout.

With today’s loss, the Jets finish the road trip with a 3-3-2 record and now have 41 points in 38 games.

The Jets will finally be back on home ice on Tuesday night for the first time since December 19 when they will host the Florida Panthers at the Canada Life Centre.