Connor the hero as Jets scratch out OT victory over Oilers

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This article was published 20/03/2025 (200 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — Say this about the Winnipeg Jets: They certainly don’t mind putting in a little overtime.

Kyle Connor scored his team-leading 37th goal of the year just 73 seconds into the extra frame Thursday night as the visitors rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers inside Rogers Place.

“We gutted that one out,” said Jets forward Brandon Tanev. “At the end of the day, good teams find a way to win.”

Or, in the case of the Jets, different ways to win. This was the 14th time in 70 games that Winnipeg has gone beyond 60 minutes. They are now 9-3 in three-on-three sessions to go along with a 1-1 record in shootouts.

Good thing they’re not being paid by the hour. That would be expensive.

The Jets have now hit the 100-point mark for just the third time ever, doing it quicker than they’ve ever done before. They also took another significant step towards a first-ever division title.

At 48-18-4, Winnipeg is tied with Washington for top spot in the NHL standings (the Capitals have one game in hand). They are now 10 points ahead of Dallas in both the Central Division and the Western Conference after the Stars fell 3-2 in a shootout against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stars have two games in hand.

“The result we wanted — two points is big coming in against a good team in their building — but some things we need to get better at,” said Tanev

You know there’s always a good chance that a Connor or two or three will play a major role every time these teams get together, and this latest battle of the former Smythe Division rivals was no exception.

Connor’s dramatic winner was only possible after teammate Connor Hellebuyck made what Tanev described as a “ten bell save” just seconds earlier off Zach Hyman to keep the game going. The Vezina Trophy favourite saved his best for last and recorded his league-leading 40th victory of the year, hitting that mark for just the second time in his career. He’s quickly closing in on his franchise record of 44.

Meanwhile, Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid exited the game after two periods, joining teammate and leading NHL goal scorer Leon Draisaitl who didn’t even suit up. On top of that, starting goaltender Stuart Skinner exited in the third period to be evaluated in concussion protocol and never returned. Backup Calvin Pickard came in cold for the duration and took the hard-luck loss.

In that regard, these were two points you’d expect the Jets to take, but it certainly wasn’t easy.

After erasing a pair of one-goal deficits and taking the lead early in the third period, Edmonton tied it up late and to give fans inside Rogers Place some bonus hockey.

No doubt the Jets had a bit of an advantage given the absence of McDavid and Draisaitl, and it was Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele who ultimately set up Connor for the winner.

Give the Jets credit for bouncing back after a rough outing on Tuesday night in Vancouver which ended with an ugly 6-2 loss.

Let’s break this one down further:

CONNECT THREE: Good friends and ex-housemates Dylan Samberg and Cole Perfetti had been talking about teaming up for a goal prior to the start of this road trip.

How does three sound?

On Sunday in Seattle, Samberg assisted on Perfetti’s first-period tally, and then Perfetti returned the favour by setting up Samberg’s overtime winner.

The pair were at it again Thursday. After Nikolaj Ehlers made a slick offensive zone entry, Samberg’s shot was stopped by Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner. The rebound went directly to Perfetti, who ripped his 15th goal of the year to tie the game 1-1 at 13:39 of the first period.

Arniel may want to make sure these two are on the ice together as much as possible going forward.

CHALLENGING SITUATION: Jeff Skinner, who opened the scoring just 5:28 into the game on a shot from just inside the blue-line that Hellebuyck would definitely want back, struck again early in the middle frame off a strange play.

McDavid’s pass from behind the net was actually knocked in off the stick of Ehlers — he was trying to clear it away — but also struck Skinner’s stick on the way past a surprised Hellebuyck.

The Jets challenged for goaltender interference.

“We were arguing about Helly’s stick. It was Helly’s stick that was impeded by a skate from the Edmonton player,” Arniel explained after the game.

“And they decided that it wasn’t. But that was what we were after. We just felt he was in the blue paint and he didn’t allow Helly to get his stick back underneath and obviously in front of him.”

Now down 2-1, the Jets were left shorthanded and this had the potential to really get away from them. But after an effective penalty kill, Nino Niederreiter stepped right out of the box (he was serving the delay of game minor) and made a terrific pass to Josh Morrissey who re-directed it past Skinner to make it 2-2.

It was Morrissey’s 11th of the year and just the second point in the past 15 games for Niederreiter.

“Our group really hunkered down off of that call,” said Arniel. “It certainly can change the game if you go down 3-1. Then to get one right away, with Josh going the other way, that was big.”

DOWN TO THE WIRE: You get the sense Tanev was built for moments like this.

The veteran forward, whose energy level is always cranked to maximum, gave the Jets their first lead of the night at 3:56 of the third during a goal-mouth scramble. His first attempt hit the post, but he got his own rebound to score his 10th of the year — and his first since being acquired in a deadline day trade with Seattle.

“Definitely a crazy sequence of events,” said Tanev.

“Fortunate to stick with it and get the puck in the net there. Bear and Al (linemates Morgan Barron and Alex Iafallo) did a great job setting plays up. A good shot to the net, stick with the rebound, get to the front of the net. I think we wanted to challenge their goaltender, so we did that and we’re fortunate to put one in there.”

Just when it looked like that goal might stand up, Hyman got behind coverage and scooped home a loose puck at 14:26 of the final frame. Hellebuyck had stopped the initial shot by Darnell Nurse, but Hyman pounced on the rebound.

“I don’t want to speak for their coach, but it was a little sloppy. I think both teams turned pucks over,” said Arniel. “But at the end of the day, last game of a road trip, we did what we had to do. We got the lead, and I really would have liked to see us lock that down. But obviously a big goal in overtime.”

KEY PLAY: Connor’s overtime winner was the difference.

THREE STARS:

1. EDM LW Jeff Skinner: 2 goals

2. WPG D Josh Morrissey: 1 goal, 1 assist

3. WPG LW Kyle Connor: Game-winning goal

WHO’S THE NEW GUY? There was a bit of a media circus during Thursday’s morning skate, where new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accepted an invite from the Oilers to hit the ice with them.

The 60-year-old grew up in Edmonton and played college hockey — as both a third-string goaltender at Harvard and Oxford.

“It’s a special moment for the organization, (having) the prime minister here with the team,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “Not too many, I assume, prime ministers have been Oilers fans, so it’s nice to have one that cheers for a good team.”

Carney wisely opted to leave his goalie gear at home for this one and not stare down Oilers shooters.

“I’m not sure his security detail would have liked that very much,” said McDavid. “Obviously it was a unique thing to have him here. It was cool to meet him. An Oilers fan is always welcome.”

EXTRA, EXTRA: Winnipeg’s power play continues to trend in the wrong direction. The Jets went 0-for-4 in the game, including a 63 second 5-on-3 advantage and then a late chance with just over two minutes left in the third. Winnipeg is now 1-for-16 over the last six games.

“You know what, sometimes for them, it just comes down to detail. We get some looks,” said Arniel.

“KC, what did he have? Seven shots tonight? They’ll find it. It’s just part of sticking with it. If they’re working on the details and the compete part, they’ll spend time in that (offensive) end of the rink and it will turn for us.”

The Jets did go 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Injured defenceman Neal Pionk, who has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, was riding the stationary bike outside the Jets room Thursday morning and showing no issues. It’s notable that he was wearing runners, as Pionk was photographed last Saturday in a walking boot after attending a comedy show with a few teammates in Seattle.

The Jets have told defenceman Luke Schenn to go home to Nashville on Friday to spend a day with his wife and children. It’s been a whirlwind for the veteran, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 5, then flipped to Winnipeg two days later. Schenn was very appreciative of the gesture by the Jets. He’ll be back in time for Sunday afternoon’s game against Buffalo, which is the first of four straight at Canada Life Centre.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg