Power outage leaves Jets banking single point against Flyers after shootout

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This article was published 01/03/2025 (194 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kyle Connor couldn’t believe the red light didn’t go on.

With the teams locked into three-on-three overtime, the Winnipeg Jets sniper had the game on his stick and had ample room in the net to place his shot from the slot.

What Connor didn’t anticipate was Philadelphia Flyers centre Noah Cates getting in the way and making a game-saving stop with goalie Ivan Fedotov seemingly down and out with 2:29 left in the extra period.

That was the Jets’ best chance to earn the extra point and they ultimately fell 2-1 in the shootout to the Flyers on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre.

“We had our chances,” said Jets centre Mark Scheifele, who scored his team-leading 34th goal of the campaign. “Their guy (Cates) saves it. That’s one that goes in (on) most nights.”

The Jets, who moved to 42-15-4 for the season, open a four-game road trip on Tuesday against the New York Islanders.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel praised the play of the opposition goalie in the 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday and thought Ivan Fedotov did a great job on Saturday, finishing with 30 saves.

“The goaltender has a lot to do with it. Obviously this team does a real good job of trying to get into shot lanes,” said Arniel. “Can’t criticize when guys are taking that many opportunities and getting that many looks. Two weeks ago or earlier in the year, all that stuff was going in. Especially if we got that much quantity.

“You know, the last few games goaltenders have made stops and we’ve gotten snake-bitten a couple times. For us, it’s just stay with it. Stick with what we’re doing, some of those will start to go in.”

Let’s take a closer look at what unfolded in this one:

POWER OUTAGE

Late in the third period, the Jets had two opportunities on the power play to break the 1-1 tie, but they were unable to do so.

Nikolaj Ehlers had the best chance, but his wrister was snared by the glove of Fedotov.

“I hit my shot exactly the way I wanted to,” said Ehlers. “I think his glove was just lucky to be there.”

Lucky or not, the Jets are now in the midst of an 0-for-15 drought that has stretched to six games.

They continue to lead the NHL in power-play efficiency, but working through this stretch is important for a group that’s been operating north of 30 per cent for almost the entire season.

“Yeah, I mean those are the ones, you’ve got to put a game away at that point. You’ve got to take advantage and we haven’t been able to do that,” said Ehlers. “I think our power play has gotten better over the last few games, at least in the right direction. But still too many mistakes and too many bad passes.”

Arniel is encouraged about the steps forward the power play has been taking during the past several games.

“I thought we had some great looks again. Just like two nights ago,” said Arniel. “(Ehlers) had the glorious one right there and a few that were real tight, real close. Whatever. I’m not criticizing our power play.

“Our play has been exceptional. In Ottawa, it wasn’t what it needed to be. I thought (that during) the last two games, we were dangerous. Spent the whole time in their end of the rink.”

THE KEY PLAY

Flyers centre Noah Cates dove in front of a point-blank chance for Jets sniper Kyle Connor in overtime to help push the game to a shootout.

THE THREE STARS

1) Ivan Fedotov, Flyers. The backup goalie made 30 saves in his first start since Feb. 6, then was perfect in the three-round shootout.

2) Mark Scheifele, Jets. Scored his team-leading 34th goal, while generating five shots on goal and 10 shot attempts.

3) Rasmus Ristolainen, Flyers. Seven shots on goal, three hits, one blocked shot.

 

THE RETURN

Jets left-winger Morgan Barron returned to the lineup after missing the past eight games with an upper-body injury he suffered after delivering a hit on Montreal Canadiens centre Kirby Dach in late January.

Barron, who recorded four hits and one shot on goal, showed great hustle on a backcheck in the second period, then drew a pair of penalties in the third period in the offensive zone.

“(He) hadn’t played in a while. I thought he was real good. He drew those penalties, it would have been nice if we scored for him and got him one,” said Arniel. “

I think that once he continues to get up to game speed — you can’t emulate it in practice or extra skating — him just getting those reps is important. It’s also some fresh legs for us tonight. Which certainly helped.”

 

THE PREPARATION

With the NHL trade deadline coming up on Friday at 3 p.m., there’s plenty of discussion about what the Jets might do to bolster a team that’s battling for first overall in the NHL.

Following the morning skate, Arniel was asked about the prospect of standing pat, given the results to date, but he wasn’t about to reveal any secrets about the direction general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff might be taking.

“They do their homework. We’re going to take this right to, what is it, 3:00 in the East, to see what’s available,” said Arniel, noting that good teams often look for depth rather than a blockbuster.

“Because if you have a chance to make yourself a little bit better, then you need to do that. If that means us standing pat, that’s also… we’ve shown all year long we’re a good hockey team. That’ll be a big part of the decision making when we get to that moment on Friday.”

Jets captain Adam Lowry also weighed in on the topic.

“For players in the league, it’s always an interesting time, obviously fans (are) speculating, they want moves to be made, and things like that,” said Lowry.

“In here, we don’t really pay a whole lot of attention to what happens, obviously, when moves are made or whatnot then there’s the excitement whether you’re adding players or things like that.

“Our jobs, we try and put ourselves in the best position possible to make the organization feel that we have a chance and we have a chance to go on a run and potentially win the Stanley Cup, and if they feel like to push us over the top we need to add, then so be it.”

It will be a surprise if the Jets don’t add a defenceman and a forward before next Friday – and the speculation Lowry mentioned will only intensify as the week moves along.

EXTRA, EXTRA

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made his 46th start of the season and finished with 31 saves as his winning streak ended at eight games.

Speaking of the Jets power play, after being unable to convert on those two opportunities drawn by Barron, they’ve gone six games without a goal with the man-advantage and they’re zero-for-16 during that stretch. The Jets still lead the league in power-play efficiency.

The Jets returned forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League on Saturday, which meant the healthy scratches were defencemen Haydn Fleury and Ville Heinola and forward David Gustafsson.

Elkhorn product Travis Sanheim, fresh off a gold medal performance with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, took 35 shifts for team-high 27:47 of ice time for the Flyers, recording one shot on goal, three hits and a blocked shot.

 

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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