Jets down Hurricanes in overtime

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This article was published 13/10/2016 (3580 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Overtime

Mark Scheifele scored at 2:41 of overtime to give the Winnipeg Jets a 5-4 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes in NHL action at the MTS Centre Thursday night.

Third Period

Much-heralded Winnipeg Jets rookie forward Patrik Laine scored his first NHL goal in his first regular-season game, snapping a highlight reel shot past Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward on the power play at 13:33 of the third period in NHL action at the MTS Centre Thursday night.

The goal keyed a late surge for the hosts, who tied the game 4-4 on a marker by Mathieu Perreault at 18:33 of the third in the first regular-season action for both clubs. Laine also drew an assist on the tying goal.

Victor Rask had increased Carolina’s lead to 4-1 earlier in the third, beating Connor Hellebuyck cleanly at 5:02.

Winnipeg cut the lead to 4-2 nine seconds later when Blake Wheeler put a short-handed marker through Carolina goalie Cam Ward’s pads.

Second Period

The Hurricanes moved into a 2-1 lead after Lee Stempniak’s power-play goal at 4:43 of the middle frame.

Jordan Staal increased the Carolina lead to 3-1 on a controversial goal with 31 seconds remaining in period. Victor Stalberg appeared to hold Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien’s stick as the two battled for a loose puck before Staal swooped in to corral the puck and fire it past Hellebuyck.

The Canes held a 21-13 edge in shots.

First Period

Off-season acquisition Shawn Matthias scored his first goal as a member of the Winnipeg Jets 4:13 into his debut at the MTS Centre Thursday night.

Matthias, stationed below the Hurricanes goal-line, fired a shot off Carolina goaltender Cam Ward’s left arm and in to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.

Jeff Skinner tied the game 1-1, potting his own rebound past Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck at 11:23 of the opening period.

Jets centre Bryan Little left the game midway through the first with an apparent lower-body injury after what appeared to be a knee-on-knee collision with Carolina’s Bryan Bickell.

Carolina held a 10-6 edge in shots.

Honouring Kroppy

The Jets paid tribute to a true super-fan Thursday night at the MTS Centre.

Before the opening faceoff of its game with the Carolina Hurricanes, the team honoured Len (Kroppy) Kropioski, who died on Sept. 13 at the age of 98.

Kroppy was a staple at all Winnipeg home games and much beloved by hockey fans and the True North organization.

The Canadian veteran would stand at attention near the glass in the Jets end and salute during the playing of the national anthem and then give a big thumps up. The veteran made the trip from Kenora to Winnipeg for every home game.

Just before O’ Canada, the Jets showed a video montage on the big screen, and a military bugler played The Last Post.