Jets push win streak to four

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This article was published 01/04/2017 (3139 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Ottawa Senators were a motivated team Saturday night, hungry to sew up an NHL playoff berth. The Winnipeg Jets, meanwhile, had been eliminated from post-season contention and seemed to have nothing to play for.

Until they dropped the puck.

The Jets, sparked by red-hot Mathieu Perreault’s third-period goal and an empty-netter from Nikolaj Ehlers, rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to hand the Senators a 4-2 loss at the MTS Centre. Perreault has eight goals and 15 assists in his last 20 games.

“We just don’t quit,” said Perreault, who has 12 goals and 39 points in 61 games this season. “I wish we would’ve done it earlier in the season, but it’s nice to get those wins now and get that good feeling in the room and knowing that we can do it and build on that.”

Winnipeg has its first four-game win streak of the season — and all have been of the comeback variety.

Next up is a two-game road trip, which begins Tuesday in St. Louis against the Blues.

The Jets, who improved to 37-35-7, got a 29-save performance from Connor Hellebuyck, while the 41-27-9 Sens got 24 saves from Mike Condon. Ottawa is now tied with the hard-charging Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division.

The Sens started the game without the services of injured all-star Erik Karlsson and his blue-line partner Mark Methot. Another defender, Cody Ceci (lower body), left the game and is expected to miss the Ottawa’s next start.

Will Karlsson be healthy enough to return for Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings?

“We’re going to need some more candles at church to be lit up for sure,” said Sens head coach Guy Boucher. “Hopefully, (his injury) takes less time than more. But in the end, if he’s not there, we’re going to play with the guys who are there and we’re going to have to battle through and find ways to scratch some points and go through it.”

Errors led to early goals Saturday.

Ottawa took a 1-0 lead in the first period on Mike Hoffman’s 24th of the season, a one-timer off of a feed from Derick Brassard, which was preceded by consecutive turnovers by Joel Armia and Nelson Nogier in the defensive zone.

In the middle frame, the Jets evened the game 1-1 when Chris Kelly’s attempt to reverse the puck behind the Senators net ended up in front of Condon and on Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler’s stick. Wheeler couldn’t miss, potting his 25th goal of the season at 3:29.

Eleven seconds later, Ottawa was up 2-1 after Hoffman’s centring attempt deflected off Bryan Little’s stick and past Hellebuyck.

Adam Lowry’s effective work continued later in the period when he made it 2-2, banging Jacob Trouba’s rebound past Condon for his 15th of the season at 10:33, just after a Winnipeg power play had expired.

“I think you’re cognizant of people on the ice and the pressure that they’re putting on,” said Lowry. “The pass (Jets centre Mark) Scheifele made, I think he says he wouldn’t necessarily try that pass cross-blue line over two guys’ sticks if they’re fresh. He feels he can catch them if they knock it down.

“When you’re tired, you seem to start making mistakes. They weren’t able to get a few clears. Trouba did a great job and a couple of other guys keeping pucks in and, luckily, we were able to cash in there.”

Lowry’s nasty demeanour has been making life miserable for rivals lately, including Ottawa’s Kyle Turris, who took the brunt of a massive hit from the Jets centre in the third period.

Ehler’s goal, his 24th of the season, came with an empty net and linemate Patrik Laine wide open on the opposite side. Did he consider passing to the big Finn?

“I’d been on the ice for a minute and I don’t think I was seeing (the ice) well,” joked Ehlers. “I could stand here with all my excuses, but the puck should have been over there. I apologized (to him). Next time, if we get another chance like that and he has the puck, I’m just going to go change.”

 

IN PRAISE OF PATRIK

Jets head coach Paul Maurice had an appraisal of Calder Trophy candidate Laine, who has 34 goals (second among NHL rookies) but only one in his last eight games.

“When you look at his start to where he is now — and I know there’s concern because he doesn’t score on every shot over the last week — just incredible,” said Maurice. “You’d appreciate it him so much more if you got the chance to talk to him every day, watch him in practice every day, talk to him video-wise. He’s got a real interest in the team. He’s a real team guy.

“When you think about probably what his life has been like, he’s the gunner on every team. He’s on a different pedestal than every other player. But he fits in just right into the room at 18 years old, really respectful of his teammates, talks about the team winning and the team game.”

Laine would an obvious choice to suit up for Finland at the world championship, which is scheduled for May 5-21 in Paris and Cologne, Germany.

“The only single benefit of anything to not making the playoffs, is he might get a little bit of rest, I’m hoping,” added Maurice. “His last stretch of hockey over the last two years, he’s been on the ice an awful lot.”

 

NOTEWORTHY

The Jets went 0-for-2 on the power play while Ottawa was scoreless in two chances.

Blake Wheeler is on a five-game point-scoring streak after Saturday’s goal.

Jacob Trouba had two assists, four shots, three blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in 24:46 of ice time.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14