The Winnipeg Jets faced a tough matchup last night against the Colorado Avalanche for the second game of their three-game road trip.
The Jets started this game extremely well as Neal Pionk and Sam Gagner scored to put the Jets ahead 2-0 after the first period.
The Avalanche and Jets tried goals in the first half of the second period and then Colorado began to find their momentum and game.
The Avalanche were rewarded with two goals in the final five minutes of the second frame to tie this game at 3-3 after two.
The sides traded chances in the third with the Avalanche having the better of the play but neither side could find the back of the net and the game was to be decided in overtime. The Avalanche outshot the Jets 9-5 in the third.
Neal Pionk scored the game winning goal in overtime to seal both points for the Winnipeg Jets in Colorado
Many fans were confused about the Jets employing a trio of Mason Appleton, Adam Lowry, and Neal Pionk to start overtime against the big guns of Colorado, but this move paid off for the Jets coaching staff.
Colorado got the first possession of the puck in three-on-three action and the Jets were held in their defensive zone. The puck then got rimmed around by the Avalanche’s bench and it was a race between Appleton and Nathan MacKinnon to the loose puck.
Appleton won the race and delivered a great check on MacKinnon to take him out of the play. Appleton then shuffled the puck to Pionk and the Jets had a two-on-one down the ice.
Pionk held onto the puck into the Avalanche’s zone and their defenseman started to slide to break up any pass from Pionk to Lowry. Instead, Pionk took a slapshot that whizzed past Alexander Georgiev to give the Jets the 4-3 victory.
Have yourself a GAME @NPionk95 😍 pic.twitter.com/SUbUqpFlLo
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 20, 2022
Here is how Twitter reacted to the game winner:
Lovely sound
— Six (@T_Chartrand) October 20, 2022
HAD ME OUT OF MY SEAT!!!!! WAAAAAHOOOOOO #GoJetsGo
— Riyana(Rhe)✨️god as herself✨️ (@youremyluckred) October 20, 2022
after seeing that starting lineup for OT i figured we were finished lmaooo Arniel W
— Brandon (@Brandon_reis11) October 20, 2022
Here is what Neal Pionk had to say about his overtime winning goal and the victory in the mile-high city:
"I was going far side. I got a little lucky, but it was a good shot."
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 20, 2022
Neal Pionk on scoring the overtime winner, getting the win over the defending champs and more. pic.twitter.com/ytoBaZlZXH
This victory will be short-lived as the Jets are concluding their road trip tonight in Vegas as they take on the Golden Knights. Stay tuned to our site for a preview of this matchup.
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With this win versus Colorado, the Jets have split their first two games of this trip. On Monday, the Jets lost 4-1 to the Dallas Stars.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Who was your MVP in the Jets’ overtime win over the Avalanche? Leave your comments below!
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