Jets grind out come-from-behind shootout victory over Kraken

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This article was published 14/02/2023 (936 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a playoff-style game, filled with all the tight checking and attention to detail that is so important as the stakes get higher. Where every shift and every mistake is often magnified, and the margin between success and failure can be razor-thin.

And the Winnipeg Jets, who fancy themselves going on a long and fruitful run this spring, showed Tuesday night they can be quite comfortable playing that style of hockey.

A 3-2 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken at Canada Life Centre was the type of grind-it-out effort they’ll need more of down the stretch.

“There’s not much separating these two teams. Just look at the standings. So yeah, that’s how we want to play, for the most part,” said Jets coach Rick Bowness.

“Good teams find a way to win and we found a way.”

Pierre-Luc Dubois tied the game with just over 10 minutes left in regulation, then scored the decisive goal during the breakaway contest to give his squad a third straight victory.

“I don’t remember the last time I was in a shootout. But a win’s a win,” said Dubois.

Winnipeg improves to 34-19-1, including 8-1 in games that go beyond regulation. They are just two points behind Dallas for first place in the Central Division with a game in hand. Seattle falls to 30-18-6.

Let’s break down where it all went right for the home team:

1) Philipp Grubauer versus David Rittich may not have screamed “goalie duel”, but that’s exactly what we got. Grubauer was sensational, stopping 38 of 40 shots he faced, while Rittich turned aside 27 of 29 pucks that came his way.

Rittich was pressed into action when No. 1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck phoned in with a non-COVID illness. The Jets called up Arvid Holm from the Manitoba Moose to serve as the backup to Rittich, who lived up to his “Big Save Dave” nickname on numerous occasions.

He’s now 9-4-0 in his 13 starts this season.

“I think we’ve been very fortunate regardless of who’s in net for us that they’re going to give us a chance every night,” said Adam Lowry.

“We are spoiled with Helle every time he starts, he’s Vezina-calibre, I think personally he’s the best goalie in the league. Ritter, when he’s been called upon, he’s been great. To be able to play well in front of him tonight, and he was real calm and composed and made some huge saves for us to keep us in the game, and then just shut it down, lock it down in the shootout, that’s huge for us, too.”

2) Dubois could have been fitted for goat horns in this one. After Blake Wheeler and John Hayden traded second-period goals, a frustrated Dubois took a huge run at Seattle’s Vince Dunn late in the middle frame. He was upset over what he felt was a missed call by officials seconds earlier.

The result was an undisciplined interference penalty and a Seattle power play which resulted in their first lead, thanks to Jared McCann’s bizarre bank shot goal with 26 seconds left. His shot hit the skates of both Dylan DeMelo and Mason Appleton before finding the back of the net.

“Listen, he’s a competitive guy. When you’re a competitive guy sometimes the emotions get a little bit out of control,” said a forgiving Jets coach Rick Bowness.

“But I’d rather calm a guy down than crank him up every day. So I’d rather deal with that issue than try to get the guy going every game. He’s a competitive guy who wants to win, so sometimes you get a little carried away. That’s hockey.”

To Dubois’ credit, he came out in the third period with redemption on his mind. And his tying goal actually was a bank shot off Dunn of all people to get the Jets back on even terms.

“That was a pass. I thought somebody was back door. That’s just how it goes sometimes,” said Dubois.

3) Winnipeg was the only NHL team that had yet to go to a shootout this year, thanks to their aggressive overtime approach that resulted in a sparkling 7-1 record. They certainly had their chances to end it during the three-on-three competition, but Grubauer made several 10-bell saves.

Mark Scheifele went first in the shootout and scored, while Ryan Donato’s shot went wide for Seattle. Kyle Connor was then stopped, as was Jordan Eberle.

That set the stage for Dubois to end it, which he did, sending 14,237 customers home happy on Valentine’s Day.

“I kind of cheated a bit. I had a penalty shot at one point (earlier this year), so I wasn’t as rusty,” said Dubois.

4) Josh Morrissey’s assist on Dubois’ tying goal was a historical one. He passed Toby Enstrom for most helpers in a single season by a Jets/Atlanta Thrashers defenceman, with 45. He also moved into a tie with Dustin Byfuglien for most points in a single campaign, with 56.

“It’s great. Twenty-something games left, hopefully he sets the bar even higher,” Dubois said of Morrissey.

“He’s been great for us this year. Everybody in this dressing room is so happy for him. He’s worked so hard, had a good training camp, good start to the season. And he’s kept it up. He’s a big reason we are where we are today.”

5) Although McCann scored the fluky goal, Winnipegs penalty kill was a big story. They killed off six minutes of infractions in the first period, including a four-minute high sticking penalty to Morgan Barron.

Lowry played a huge role, as he was forced to play without a stick for an extended period of time he gave his to teammate Brenden Dillon, whose twig had exploded. Lowry made two massive shot blocks, with the second one ultimately going into the crowd and giving Winnipeg a much-needed whistle.

“I could have been a goalie,” said Lowry. “I played it when I was young, for a bit. And ultimately had to make the decision. I guess I made the right decision. But growing up playing on the lake or the outdoor rinks or road hockey, with the older brother I got thrown in net and then kind of fell in love with it. There were a few kick saves tonight.”

6) In addition to picking up two more points, the Jets got some more good news on Tuesday when forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby cleared waivers. The 25-year-old has now been assigned to the Manitoba Moose.

Jonsson-Fjallby had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 45 games with the Jets this year. His spot on the roster was needed for DeMelo to be activated off injured reserve.

The Jets now just have one skater — centre David Gustafsson — sidelined with injury, and he’s getting closer to a return as well.

7) Sports can be a terrific escape from the real world. But there are times you simply can’t avoid the realities of what’s happening around you.

That was certainly the case for Appleton, who sounded off Tuesday morning about Monday’s mass shooting at Michigan State University that left three students dead.

“It’s one of those things that it’s such a cowardly act,” said Appleton, who spent two years at MSU. “You just pray for the ones that were affected and their families and they all find the strength to get through a tough time like that. We all dream of a world where none of that stuff happens because it’s absolute s—t, and no one deserves that.”

Appleton returns to Michigan every summer and skates and trains with coaches, players and alumni from the college.

“I was only there for two years, but I couldn’t imagine anything like that happening when I was there, nobody ever really can really until something like that does,” he said.

UP NEXT: The Jets begin a four-game road trip on Thursday night in Columbus against old friends Patrick Laine, Jack Roslovic and Pascal Vincent.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg