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This article was published 15/10/2016 (2420 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Comeback win somewhat novel

The ability to come from behind and steal two points wasn’t a distinguishing mark of the 2015-16 Winnipeg Jets.

So, the significance of rallying from three goals down to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in overtime Thursday night was a hot topic of conversation following Jets practice Friday afternoon.

“It was huge for us, especially when you look at last year. I don’t even think we came back being down in a game going into the third,” said 6-8, 230-pound defenceman Tyler Myers. “There was a lot of excitement. It was a huge win for us. We’ve just got to build off it.”

Myers’ recollection wasn’t entirely accurate.

In fact, the club stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to knock off the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in mid March at the MTS Centre, snapping an ugly 0-24-3 record when trailing after two periods. Adam Lowry supplied the winning goal midway through the final period for the hosts that night.

In Thursday’s season opener for the Jets and ‘Canes, centre Mark Scheifele fired the OT winner with two minutes, 19 seconds left in the three-on-three session. He capped off a rally that began with Blake Wheeler’s short-handed goal at 5:11 of the third period, gained steam with rookie Patrik Laine’s first NHL goal at 13:13 and hit a crescendo with Mathieu Perreault’s game-tying tally at 18:31.

“I think it’s proof we can do it,” said Myers. “To do it in the first game of the year should give us confidence to know that if we do the right things and stick to our system, good things will happen.”

Wheeler, the Jets captain, set up Scheifele on a two-on-one break for the clincher and finished with a goal and a pair of assists.

Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice called Wheeler a model of consistency and credited him for sparking the comeback.

“In the last two years and leading into this year, he would be the one guy that there’s only a handful of nights where you could say he wasn’t true to his identity in that game,” said Maurice. “He can be so dominant with his speed and his power and great finishing hands. He’s developed into that new power forward.”

 

It’s in the past

Less than 24 hours after fulfilling life-long dreams, Laine and fellow rookie forward Kyle Connor were already looking ahead.

‘There was a lot of excitement. It was a huge win for us. We’ve just got to build off it’– Jets defenceman Tyler Myers on Thursday’s come-from-behind OT win

Both made their NHL debuts Thursday and both hit the scoresheet. Laine’s wicked wrist shot that found the top corner behind goalie Cam Ward has likely been on countless highlight reels the past 36 hours. Connor picked up an assist on the play.

“It was a nice moment and now I just want to go out and create some new, special nights,” said Laine.

Connor echoed those sentiments. “We’re moving ahead now,” he said. “That kind of win gives us confidence to know later in the year if we’re down a couple of goals we can come back as a team.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell