The 2025-26 hockey season won’t soon be forgotten in Niverville.

Not after an eight-month journey turned a four-year-old Manitoba franchise into the kings of Canadian Junior A hockey.

And not after a post-season run that bordered on perfection.

And certainly not after the Niverville Nighthawks walked into a sold-out building in Summerside, PEI, stared down the hometown favourites on the biggest stage in the country, and skated away as Centennial Cup national champions. 

For a franchise that only entered the Manitoba Junior Hockey League four years ago, the accomplishment feels almost surreal. Yet by the time the final horn sounded on a 4-1 victory over the Summerside Western Capitals, there was little debate left about who deserved the crown.

The Nighthawks weren’t simply champions. They were dominant.

From October to May, Niverville built one of the most impressive seasons the MJHL has ever seen. The Nighthawks posted a staggering 51-6-1 regular-season record, rolled through the playoffs at 12-1 and then completed an undefeated run at the Centennial Cup tournament. 

That combination of skill, maturity and belief transformed a once-expansion franchise into the best Junior A team in Canada.

“You don’t hear of too many teams as dominant as us in a while,” forward Marlen Edwards told reporters after the club captured the Turnbull Cup. “We all had the mindset that we’re going to win every single game that we can.” 

Turns out, they almost did.

The championship game itself perfectly reflected the identity the Nighthawks forged all season long — poised, disciplined and relentless.

In front of a hostile crowd at Credit Union Place, there were no signs of panic from the visitors. Hayden Wheddon opened the scoring in the first period, wiring home a shot after walking into space, with captain Adam Vigfusson and Merik Boles collecting assists. 

Summerside briefly tied the contest while shorthanded, but the Nighthawks never wavered.

Goaltender Austin Dubinsky slammed the door shut.

The CJHL’s Top Goaltender delivered the best performance of his remarkable season in the biggest game of his career, turning aside 34 shots while weathering heavy early pressure from the hometown Capitals. 

Wheddon struck again in the second period, scoring what would become the game-winning goal, before Edwards buried another dagger in the third. Tyler Bernier added the empty-netter that finally unleashed the celebration. 

Then came the image every hockey player dreams about. The horn sounded. Players stormed off the bench.

Dubinsky disappeared beneath a mob of jubilant teammates as the Nighthawks celebrated the first national championship in franchise history. 

What makes the story even more remarkable is how quickly everything has come together in Niverville.

Head coach Dwight Hirst was part of the ownership group that helped bring the franchise to town. Midway through the organization’s second season, he stepped behind the bench after a coaching change and helped alter the direction of the team. 

Now he stands behind the bench of a national champion.

“We got into the playoffs and the franchise turned around right there,” Hirst told Game On Magazine’s Jim Bender. 

The remarkable thing about the Nighthawks was that there never appeared to be a weak link in the lineup.

They had elite scoring, led by Wheddon, Vigfusson, Johnny Scott, Edwards and Bernier. They had a rugged and dependable blue line anchored by Aaron Krestanovich, Parker Carrier and Jase Konecsni. And behind it all stood Dubinsky, whose playoff numbers were video-game ridiculous — a 1.31 goals-against average, three shutouts and a .956 save percentage. 

Still, the defining characteristic may have been something less tangible: The complete buy-in.

“The keys to our victory is just our total team buy-in,” Hirst told Bender. “These guys are probably the most unselfish kids I’ve coached in hockey in years.” 

That culture was evident everywhere. Veterans embraced roles. Newcomers fit in seamlessly.

Players who had won championships elsewhere, including Edwards, Bernier and Krestanovich with the Northern Manitoba Blizzard last season, brought valuable experience into the dressing room. Interestingly, Bernier, Edwards and D-man Luke Wagner were all champions with Team Manitoba at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, as well.

And at the centre of it all stood captain Adam Vigfusson, the emotional heartbeat of the franchise from Day 1.

Before the championship game, Vigfusson was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after impacting virtually every game at the Centennial Cup. For a player who has been with the organization since its opening season, the ending could not have been scripted any better.

“I’m so proud of this team,” Vigfusson told reporters in Summerside. “Everyone knows what we had was special and ultimately, we got the job done.” 

Special indeed.

The Canadian Junior Hockey League season began with 116 teams across nine leagues. When it finally ended, only one remained standing. 

And somehow, improbably, magnificently, that team came from a Manitoba town better known for quiet streets and community spirit than national hockey champions.

At least until now.

THE 2025-26 MJHL AND CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

NIVERVILLE NIGHTHAWKS

1.               Ben Chornomydz                  G

2.               Beckham Garchinski             D

3.               Jaden Mah                            D

5.               Jake Demome                       D

6.               Kole Mears                           F

7.               Tyler Bernier                         F

8.               Thomas Phillips                    D

9.               Loik Leduc                            F

10.             Evan Panzer                         F

11.             Marlen Edwards                    F

12.             Jase Konecsni                      D

14.             Aaron Krestanowich (A)        D

15.             Adam Vigfusson (C)              F

16.             Ryken Arran                          F

17.             Parker Carrier (A)                  D

18.             Parker Rolston                      F

19.             Calyb Moore                         F

20.             John Scott                             F

21.             Dawson Zeller (A)                 F

22.             Luke Wagner                        D

25.             Max Dowse                           F

29.             Hayden Wheddon                 F

33.             Austin Dubinsky                    G

37.             Tegan Kurtz                          F

55.             Merik Boles                           F

General Manager: Mike McAulay

Head Coach: Dwight Hirst

Assistant Coach: Tyler Anderson

Associate Coach: Jeff McGill

Physiotherapist: Justin Giesbrecht

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Rob Pambrun

The roar inside Canada Life Centre this season carried a little more meaning—and a lot more heart—every time Jonathan Toews stepped onto the ice.

At 38, after years away battling serious health challenges, the local Winnipeg hero didn’t just return to the National Hockey League -- he redefined what perseverance looks like at hockey’s highest level.

Now, that remarkable comeback has earned him a place among the three finalists for the 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, alongside Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres and Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche. 

Awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, the Masterton nomination feels particularly fitting for a player whose journey has been anything but ordinary.

Toews’ return wasn’t ceremonial—it was impactful. He played all 82 games for Winnipeg this season, producing 29 points while anchoring the team with his trademark reliability and leadership. His 62.1 percent faceoff success ranked among the league’s best, a reminder that even after years away, his elite skill set remains intact. 

But the numbers only scratch the surface.

This season marked Toews’ full-circle moment: a hometown return after stepping away from the game in 2023 due to Long COVID and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. For a player who once defined excellence with the Chicago Blackhawks—capturing three Stanley Cups and earning honours like the Conn Smythe Trophy and Selke Trophy—this chapter may be his most meaningful yet. 

Inside the Jets’ room, his influence has been just as profound. Toews has emerged as a mentor, guiding a new generation while reinforcing the culture of professionalism and resilience. Off the ice, his community involvement continues to reflect the same values that have defined his career.

The Masterton Trophy itself carries deep historical ties to Winnipeg, named after Bill Masterton, a Winnipeg-born NHL player who embodied dedication to the game before his tragic passing in 1968. 

For Toews, this nomination isn’t just about recognition—it’s about legacy. Not the one built through championships and accolades, but the one forged through adversity, resilience, and an unwavering love for the game.

And in a city that understands hockey as more than just a sport, that story resonates louder than ever.

The Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 season is over, and it did not go out with a bang. In fact, it went out with such a whimper, it was barely audible.

Thursday night at Canada Life Centre in front of 15,225 paying customers – many of whom left after the second period – the San Jose Sharks blasted the Jets 6-1.

With an exclamation point, there will not be a White Out this April.

Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks 19-year-old superstar, was the story of the night, scoring a goal and adding two assists to finish the season with 115 points, breaking Joe Thormton’s Sharks record of 114 points set in the 2006-07 season.

Meanwhile, the Jets finished the 2025-26 campaign with a record of 35-35-12, having lost their final four games by scores of 7-1 to Philadelphia, 6-2 to Vegas, 5-3 to Utah and 6-1 to San Jose. It was a sad way to finish an already disappointing year, but it did secure one thing – a Top 10 selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Despite scoring first, this was a disappointing evening for the Jets. When patrons start leaving the building early on Fan Appreciation Night, you know it wasn’t the outcome that anyone had planned.

The Jets opened the scoring at the 3:28 mark of the first period when Cole Koepke turned on the burners, blew past the entire Sharks team and beat San Jose netminder Alex Nedeljovic with a big shot to the corner. It was Koepke’s eight of the year and was unassisted.

However, even though the Jets outplayed the visitors and outshot them 12-7 in the first period, San Jose got goals from Igor Chernyshov (on the power play) at 6:26 and Will Smith at 16:54 as Eric Comrie was out of position on both shots. Celebrini assisted on both goals – his 69th and 70th assists of the season.

The Jets had a handful of great chances but either shot wide, shot it over the net or made ill-advised when a shot was more appropriate. The problems that have tarnished the Jets offence all year long were certainly evident in the first period of the final game of the season.

San Jose made it 3-1 at 5:51 when Collin Graf was allowed to walk in to the Jets zone unchallenged, cut across the middle (again unchallenged) and rip a wrister past Comrie. The goal came right after the Jets Gabriel Vilardi hit the post and at this stage of the period, San Jose had outshot Winnipeg 8-1. It started to appear as if the Jets were now playing for a higher draft pick. In fact, a loss and the Jets will get the seventh pick in the draft.

The nail was put into the coffin for the season when Michael Misa scored for the Sharks at 18:01 of the second frame. There was little doubt the play was offside but the Jets bench didn’t even bother to look at their screens in order to challenge. It was over and everyone knew it.

William Eklund scored at 19:55 of the second just to rub a little salt in the Jets wounds. It was absolutely ugly at this stage.

At 1:14 of the third period, Celebrini scored for the Sharks to make it 6-1 and, thus, break Thornton’s record. It was his 45th goal of the season and while his team failed to make the playoffs, his personal performance during the 2025-26 campaign was superb.

In the end, San Jose outshot Winnipeg 33-26 and outhit the Jets 15-10. Sad to say, but the Jets looked ready to dust off the golf clubs and forget thus season ever happened.

Winnipeg needs to make some significant moves this off-season. Hard to imagine we’ll recognize this team next September.

LAS VEGAS -- The Winnipeg Jets playoff hopes officially died in the desert on Monday night.

Most fans had already given up hope, but the Jets weren’t mathematically eliminated until news that the L.A. Kings had beaten the Seattle Kraken 5-3 in Seattle.

Then, when the final buzzer sounded at T-Mobile Arena here in Las Vegas, the Jets were on the short end of a 6-2 score as the Vegas Golden Knights started preparing for the playoffs and the Jets got set to finish the season with games in Utah on Tuesday and at home on Thursday.

On Monday night, Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele became the first member of Jets 2.0 to garner 100 points in a season when he picked up an assist in the third period and Gabriel Vilardi scored his 30th of the year, just about finished with the best season of his NHL career. But those were two rare bright spots in a very disappointing Jets campaign.

Despite his remarkable season, Scheifele was deeply disappointed in missing the playoffs.

“Yeah, it sucks,” said Scheifele, who had a goal and an assist on Monday night and now has 101 points and is tied for fifth in NHL scoring. “You know, we were pushing until the end and it's a tough reality.That's just the game of hockey.”

The other dressing room was much louder than Winnipeg’s and for good reason. Jack Eichel had a goal and three assists while Mark Stone had a goal and two assists as they led the Golden Knights to a decisive win at home. They looked like a team that was ready for the post-season.

Unlike the Jets, who now have to start building for next year.

“You know what, it's a terrible feeling,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We said at the Olympic break when we had our chance to have our little mini-camp and kind of get ready for the stretch run, the final 29 games, we wanted to put everything we could into it. We went from 11 points down to one at one time.

“It's a tough feeling. I know the guys are hurting. We all want to be in the playoffs, that's what our job is and our role is. When you get the reality of missing the playoffs, it sucks.”

There was no scoring in the first period as the Jets played surprisingly well despite being outshot 10-3. Winnipeg simply doesn’t want to shoot the puck until they’ve made that last perfect pass and on Monday, despite some legitimate chances, Winnipeg either passed the puck too often or fired it high and wide.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 10 shots he faced but wasn’t really tested. The shots he faced were primarily from the perimeter and on almost all of them, he had a clear view.

The Jets also killed a couple of Vegas power plays.

Vegas opened the scoring shorthanded at 7:38 of the second period when Jack Eichel gathered up the puck at his own blueline and went in on a two-on-one with Mark Stone. Eichel fed a perfect pass to Stone who fired a shot that Hellebuyck seemed to corral, but it rolled off the Jets tender and dribbled across the goal line. It was Stone’s 28th of the season.

The Knights made it 2-0 at 18:56 of the second when Reilly Smith tipped a Noah Hanifin shot past Hellebuyck. It was Smith’s 14th of the season.

Vegas outshot Winnipeg 16-10 in the second period (26-13 after 40 minutes) and at times, Hellebuyck had to be a magician in the Jets net. Winnipeg, however, went zero-for-four on the power play and gave up a Vegas shorthanded goal so obviously, the power play was an issue.

The Jets season effectively ended on Saturday night after that 7-1 loss to Philadelphia, but the exclamation point was put on the disappointing campaign when Ivan Barbashev drilled the puck into a wide-open net at the 31 second mark of the final period. It was Barbashev’s 23rd of the year and it made the score 3-0 Vegas.

On the bright side, the Jets made it 3-1 at the 2:34 mark on the power play as Gabriel Vilardi scored his 30th of the year, redirecting a perfect pass from Colin Miller. Mark Scheifele also pick up an assist, his 66th of the season and his 100th point.

“I'm very blessed. I've played with some amazing players,” said Scheifele. “I'm a very blessed man. I've just got to thank God for it all. I'm proud of myself and I know there's still more, so that's exciting.

I'm very, very lucky to play with all of the players I play with. Josh Morrissey is a guy that does so much for this team that gets unrecognized. One of the best defensemen in the league. KC (Connor) is one of the best players in this league too. That's my boy and I'm very, very lucky to have him on my wing. Gaber (Vilardi), he's just getting better each and every year. Al (Iafallo), who obviously wasn't here. Missed him out there tonight. He sent me a nice text this morning. I'm very, very lucky and very blessed to play with the guys I play with.

But any thought of a comeback was short-lived as Rasmus Anderson scored at 3:37 to make it 4-1.

The Jets made it 4-2 when Scheifele scored at 4:41, banging home a loose puck to the side of Vegas netminder Carter Hart. It was Scheifele’s 36th of the year and his 101st point. Kyle Connor (52nd) and Gabriel Vilardi (37th) drew the assists.

But only a few minutes later, Scheifele high-sticked Anderson and took a four-minute double minor. During the double power play, the Knights got goals from Pavel Dorofeyev and Jack Eichel and that was all she wrote.

Carter Hart made 21 saves to get the win while Hellebuyck stopped 32 of the 38 he faced.

The Golden Knights are now 6-0-1 since Bruce Cassidy was fired as head coach and John Tortorella took over.

The Jets have two games remaining this season. They play in Utah on Tuesday night (8 p.m. CDT) and then come home to finish the season against San Jose at 7 p.m. at Canada Life Centre.

The Winnipeg Jets are down to one last breath.

Despite a heavy blowout from Philadelphia on Saturday night, the Jets are still, mathematically, in the playoff hunt, but with every point lost the challenge to crack the postseason gets that much harder.

Winnipeg didn't do itself any favours on Saturday either. From the get go, it was all Flyers.

The Jets fell behind 3-1 after 20 minutes, before giving up another two goals in the second and another two in the third.

And this was a must-win game.

With Los Angeles and Nashville earlier picking up wins in their respective games, the Jets needed a victory to keep pace in a very narrow race for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Unfortunately, the Jets did not show up to play on Saturday, and with that, their playoff hopes hold on by just a thread. Winnipeg will need all of Los Angeles, Nashville and San Jose to effectively 'lose out,' while they 'win out' over the remaining schedules in order to even be considered for the postseason.

Haydn Fleury had the Jets' lone goal on the night, while Connor Hellebuyck lasted just 40 minutes after allowing five goals on 20 shots. He was relieved by Eric Comrie, who didn't have a save until the 17- minute mark of the final period, allowing two goals on three shots.

Winnipeg now hits the road for its final road trip of the season, with stops in Vegas and Utah before returning home for Thursday's season ender against San Jose.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Philadelphia is courtesy of Danny Truong:

QUOTEABLE:

Jets' head coach Scott Arniel on his team knowing about the score of the Kings' game prior to puck drop:

"It wasn't announced in our locker room. I am sure, maybe some guys looked and maybe some didn't, but it doesn't matter at the end of the day. We have talked about controlling what we can control, and that is basically trying to win every single night until the end of the year. And that is all we can do as we can't control what other teams are doing. Regardless of what else happened around the league, we were not ready to go and they were, and we could never get back in the game."

Adam Lowry on his team's performance:

"I don't think it's a tough sell. I think we were 11 points out coming out of the break, and we talked about this internal optimism, this belief in our team that we were better than we played all year and coming out of the break, I feel like we've done a good job of putting together good stretches of hockey playing well against good teams. And that can't change. We need our next three games. Need to be our three best of the year."

WHAT’S NEXT:

The Jets hit the road for two games in Vegas and Utah before returning home for the final game of the season against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night from Canada Life Centre.

In another game the Winnipeg Jets absolutely had to win, it was Mark Scheifele who led his team to a 6-2 shellacking of the Seattle Kraken.

Scheifele had three assists – the second helper was the 900th point of Scheifele’s career – while Kyle Connor scored two goals and Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist as the Jets won their second straight game and improved to 34-31-12, briefly putting them a single point behind Nashville and Los Angeles in the race for the final Wild Card in the Western Conference.

Trouble is, late on Monday night, Nashville plays at Los Angeles in a game that will leave one of those teams in sole possession of the final spot, three points ahead of Winnipeg.

Monday night, in front of 14,430 at Canada Life Centre, the Jets fell behin early but dominated the final two periods to blow the Kraken out of the building.

Seattle opened the scoring at 9:17 of the first period when Jordan Eberle flipped a backhander past Connor Hellebuyck. It was Eberle’s 25th of the season.

However, the Jets tied it on the power play at 12:39 when Jonathan Toews knocked down a ricochet off the end boards and tucked the puck past Seattle netminder Philipp Grubauer. It was Toews 10th of the year as Gabriel Vilardi (35th) and Josh Morrissey (40th) – the man who took the shot off the end boards – picked up the assists.

It was an odd period. The Jets were solid for the first three or four minutes, then Seattle took over and completely controlled the next eight minutes, then after they scored, the Jets were quite good for the final eight minutes. Seattle outshot Winnipeg 13-7, but had Mark Scheifele not been foiled by Grubauer -- twice -- on a clear-cut breakaway, the score might not have been 1-1.

In the second period, the Jets took a 2-1 lead at 9:55 with another power play goal. Gabriel Vilardi grabbed a loose but contested puck in front of Grubauer and ripped it under the bar for his 29th of the season. Toews (17th) and Mark Scheifele (61st) picked up the assists.

The Jets made it 3-1 with yet another power play goal at 12:09 when Kyle Connor’s shot deflected off the stick of Seattle D-man Ryan Lindgren and eluded a stunned Grubauer. It was Connor’s 37th of the season as Morrissey (41st) and Scheifele (62nd) picked up the assists. It was Scheifele’s 900th career NHL point – all with the Winnipeg Jets.

Scheifele Thanks the Crowd after notching his 900th career point (Photo by Danny Truong)

With that goal, Seattle pulled Grubauer and replaced him with Joey Daccord. As well, at this point in the second period, the Jets had outshot Seattle 12-2.

After two periods, the Jets were in a good place. They had outshot Seattle 20-17 (13-4 in the second period), outhit them 16-11 and had won 58 per cent of the faceoffs. They also led 3-1 in a game they absolutely, positively had to win.

But the Kraken, who had already beaten the Jets twice this season, would not go away. Jared McCann scored at 2:28 with a beautiful wrist shot that Hellebuyck did not see and suddenly it was 3-2.

However, the Jets regained their two-goal lead at 5:59 when Brad Lambert streaked down the right wing and wristed one over Daccord’s shoulder for his third of the year. It was a dynamic goal at just the right time. Adam Lowry (16th) and Neal Pionk (ninth) drew the assists as the Jets had some breathing room again.

The Jets put the game away at 15:19 when Kyle Connor scored his second of the game. After some exciting, scrambly play around the Seattle net, Connor got the puck loose to Scheifele who put a perfect pass back onto Connor’s stick and he fired a laser inside the post to make it 5-2. It was Connor’s 38th of the season and Scheifele’s 63rd assist.

Winnipeg put a cherry on top at 17:56 as Vladislav Namestnikov scored an empty-netter. It was Namestnikov’s eighth of the year and it came on the night he returned from an injury that kept him out of 20 games.

The Jets outshot Seattle 12-7 in the third and 32-24 overall. Winnipeg won 57 per cent of the faceoffs and outhit Seattle 27-16. It was superb effort at a time when the Jets need a superb effort every night.

Of course, Winnipeg will get no rest. The Jets will travel to St. Louis to take on the Blues on Thursday night in another must-win match-up. Game time is 7 p.m. CST on TSN3.

The Winnipeg Jets fell 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday evening from downtown Winnipeg.

After picking up a somewhat lopsided win over the Vegas Golden Knights, the Jets bounced back with a loss against the No. 1 club, setting the stage for a very important Saturday evening showdown with the very same Avalanche team in the second test of the home-and-home.

Mark Scheifele got two goals for Winnipeg - his 33rd and 34th of the season, which also set a new career high with 88 points on the year - on the night he surpassed Thomas Steen for most games played in a Jets jersey - 951.

Nathan MacKinnon scored the winner - his second of the game and 48th of the season on a play Jets' head coach Scott Arniel thought was goaltender interference. He didn't get his way with the Coach's Challenge, but his team killed the delay of game minor.

Winnipeg remains five points out of the final playoff spot and sees its chances dwindling by the hour as other clubs between the Jets and the postseason remain deep in the Western Conference playoff race.

Next up is the second half of that home-and-home on Saturday, before the Jets head to Chicago, Dallas and Columbus next week.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Colorado is courtesy of Danny Truong:

QUOTEABLE:

Cole Perfetti on Mark Scheifele:

“I think he's, what, now 32-33 and 951 games in, and I think he's having a career year this year. So it goes to show you his work ethic and his dedication to getting better every day and each year. I think every year he's getting better still, and usually when you get to 33 you kind of start going the other way, and he looks like he's getting better every day and every game. I admire how much he takes care of himself, his body, and his work ethic and practice and doing the little things right. As a young guy that's something that I can learn from. He doesn't get complacent, even though he is having such a great year. He's always looking to get better, and as a young guy I can definitely learn from that.”

Mark Scheifele on passing Thomas Steen for most games played as as Jet:

"Yeah, it's really cool. Honestly, and if you would have told me that when I started my career, don't know if I'd believe you, but I'm obviously very blessed to get to that point. You know, just have to thank God for keeping me healthy. And just want to keep it going."

WHAT’S NEXT:

Winnipeg will now get back on the road for a four-game stretch through Colorado, Chicago, Dallas and Columbus as the Jets continue to cling onto their playoff hopes. Saturday evening will be the second half of the home-and-home with the Avalanche. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM central.

It’s still an uphill battle but the Winnipeg Jets aren’t dead yet.

Tuesday night, thanks to Mark Scheifele’s Gordie Howe hat-trick – a goal, two assists and a fight with Winnipegger Brett Howden – the Jets upset the visiting Vegas Golden Knights 4-1.

As 13,478 patrons looked on at Canada Life Centre, the Jets built a 3-0 lead in the second period and then hung on to win their second straight game and improve to 30-29-12 on the season. The Jets now have points in six of their last seven games (4-1-2) and are still five points behind the Nashville Predators in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.

With 11 games remaining, the Jets and Seattle have 72 points, Los Angeles has 73 and Nashville, who has won five straight, has 77. The Jets don’t have an easy road ahead, however. They have home-and-home contests against the Colorado Avalanche, the best team in the NHL, starting on Thursday in Winnipeg and also play seven of their final 11 on the road.

Tuesday night, the stars were Scheifele, who was superb, along with linemate Kyle Connor, who had a goal and an assist, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck who made 26 saves and won his 18th game of the season.

Scheifele, who now has 32 goals and 54 assists and is seventh in scoring in the NHL, is only one point away from his career high of 87. When asked about his Gordie Howe hat-trick, Scheifele laughed: “I think it’s fourth of my career, so it’s nothing new.” Both Scheifele and Connor scored their 32nd goals of the season.

Despite the fact the Golden Knights dominated the first period (at the 9:59 mark, Vegas had outshot Winnipeg 9-0), the Jets opened the scoring at 17:25 of the first period on a classic Jets play: Scheifele dug the puck out of the corner and got it back to Josh Morrissey who whipped a pass to Connor who one-timed a shot past Vegas goaltender Adin Hill. It was a goal on Winnipeg’s fifth shot of the game and while the Jets led 1-0 after the first period, they were outshot 13-5.

Perfetti scores off the great pass from Vilardi (Photo by Danny Truong)

Despite the fact Vegas controlled the play, the Jets piled it on in the second. Alex Iafallo extended Winnipeg’s lead to 2-0 at 2:08 of the second period. After a turnover by Vegas’ wildly overrated defenceman – and marginal Olympian -- Shea Theodore, Scheifele drilled a perfect cross-ice pass into Iafallo’s stick who ripped a wrister under the bar to Hill’s short-side. It was a beauty – Iafallo’s 12th of the year.

Cole Perfetti made it to 3-0 at 4:06 as Dylan DeMelo drilled a stretch pass to Gabriel Vilardi who led a three-on-rush into Vegas territory. Vilardi waited then laid a perfect pass onto Perfetti’s stick and all he had to do was tap it into an empty net behind Hill. It was Perfetti’s 10th of the season and Vilardi’s 32nd assist.

Perfetti celebrates his goal (Photo by Danny Truong)

Colton. Sissons cut the Jets lead to 3-1 on the power play at 10:26, but the Jets took back the momentum and eventually got an empty-netter from Scheifele at 18:42 to send the fans home happy.

The three stars were 1. Scheifele, 2. Connor and 3. Hellebuyck. Vegas outshot Winnipeg 27-21 but the Jets won 52 per cent of the faceoffs and outhit the visitors 22-11.

Winnipeg is back in action at Canada Life Centre at 7 p.m. (CDT) on Thursday night as the Avalanche come back to town. The Jets go to Colorado for the re-match on Saturday at 6 p.m. (CDT).

"Lightning in a Beer Bottle." It began as a throwaway line — the kind of locker-room musing that fades as quickly as it’s spoken.

On the eve of a meaningless late-season game in 1952, Billy Mosienko, a smallish winger from Winnipeg’s North End, casually remarked that he’d love to do something to get his name into the record book. Less than 24 hours later, he didn’t just make history — he shattered it in a way that still defies belief.

On March 23, 1952, inside a half-empty Madison Square Garden, Mosienko caught what he famously called “lightning in a beer bottle.” In a span of just 21 seconds, he scored three goals — a National Hockey League record that, more than seven decades later, still stands untouched. 

At the time, there was little reason to expect anything remarkable. The Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers were both out of playoff contention in the NHL’s six-team era, playing out the string in front of a modest crowd of just 3,254 fans. The game itself seemed to be decided early in the third period, with the Rangers cruising to a 6-2 lead.

But hockey, as it so often does, had other plans.

Mosienko in the middle between Doug and Max Bentley - the Pony Line

Mosienko, temporarily serving as Chicago’s captain, had already built a reputation as a gifted scorer. A product of Winnipeg’s North End, he’d honed his game in local rinks before starring with the Winnipeg Monarchs and eventually joining the Black Hawks in the early 1940s. Alongside Max and Doug Bentley, he was part of the famed “Pony Line,” one of the most dynamic forward units of the era. 

Still, nothing in his accomplished career hinted at what was about to unfold.

The Rangers, for their part, were limping through the finale. With their top goaltenders unavailable, they turned to third-string netminder Lorne Anderson, who had already played a full game earlier that day with the Rangers’ farm team. On defense, Hy Buller — chasing a franchise record — suited up despite a cracked ankle. It was a patchwork lineup in a game that meant little.

Until, suddenly, it meant everything.

The Polaroid of the Record

At 6:09 of the third period, Mosienko struck. Taking a pass from Gus Bodnar, he darted around Buller, cut to the net and slipped the puck under Anderson’s glove to make it 6-3. Eleven seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, Bodnar found him again. Mosienko repeated the move — same route, same finish — and suddenly it was 6-4.

The Garden, quiet moments earlier, began to buzz.

Then came the third goal — the one that would echo through hockey history. Just 10 seconds after his second, Mosienko took a feed from George Gee, raced into the zone and, reading Anderson’s anticipation of another low shot, flipped the puck high over the glove.

Three goals. Twenty-one seconds. Bedlam.

The Rangers were stunned. The small crowd roared. And Mosienko, the unassuming winger from Winnipeg, had just authored one of the most astonishing bursts the sport has ever seen.

“It was insane,” one observer would later say — and that may be the simplest, most accurate description.

Chicago wasn’t done. Energized by the improbable rally, the Black Hawks completed the comeback, scoring twice more in the final minutes to secure a 7-6 victory. What had been a forgettable game became an immortal chapter in NHL lore. 

For Mosienko, the record was the crowning moment of a stellar 14-year NHL career. Over 711 games, he scored 258 goals and 540 points, earning the Lady Byng Trophy in 1945 and multiple All-Star selections. But even among those accomplishments, the “Mosienko Miracle” stands alone — a feat so rapid, so improbable, that it feels almost mythological.

And yet, it happened.

There’s something fitting about the circumstances. A meaningless game. A small crowd. A battered opponent. Hockey, after all, has always had a flair for the unexpected. Records aren’t always born under bright lights or playoff pressure — sometimes, they emerge in the quiet corners of the schedule, when no one is watching.

Except, of course, those lucky enough to be there.

Mosienko would go on to finish his NHL career in 1955 before returning home to Winnipeg, where he continued to leave his mark on the game. He helped lead the Winnipeg Warriors to a Western Hockey League championship and remained a celebrated figure in Manitoba hockey circles. His legacy would later be cemented with induction into multiple halls of fame and the naming of a Winnipeg arena in his honour – the Billy Mosienko Arena is now home to the North Winnipeg Satelites of the capital Region Junior B Hockey League.

But no accolade, no statistic, no ceremony quite captures the magic of that March night in New York. Twenty-one seconds. Three goals. One moment that refuses to fade.

And on this date 74 years later, the record still stands — not just as a benchmark of scoring, but as a reminder of hockey’s capacity for the extraordinary. In a game where everything can change in an instant, Mosienko proved that sometimes, an instant is all it takes to become immortal.

The roar came early—and it never really stopped.

From the moment Jocelyne Larocque stepped onto the ice at Canada Life Centre, the sellout crowd of 15,321 made it clear this wasn’t just another stop on the PWHL Takeover Tour. This was something bigger. Louder. Personal. 

For one night in Winnipeg, women’s hockey arrived and when it was over, after a dramatic 2-1 overtime win by the Ottawa Charge over the Montreal Victoire, the scoreboard almost felt secondary. Almost.

Because this was about homecomings, about inspiration, and about a province seeing itself reflected on the ice.

First, Winnipeg’s Kati Tabin got an enormous cheer when she was announced as a Montreal starter. However, if there was a heartbeat to the night, it was the 37-year-old four-time Olympian Larocque, the most highly decorated International Indigenous athlete in Canadian history.

The Ste. Anne, Manitoba product—Olympian, veteran, and cornerstone defender—was greeted like royalty in her home province. Every touch of the puck brought a surge of energy. Every shift carried a little more meaning.

Before the game, she received a deafening cheer from the enthusiastic crowd. After it, she was named third star. But what mattered most to her wasn’t the recognition—it was the moment itself.

Jocelyne Larocque by James Carey Lauder

“I’ve been so excited for this game all year,” Larocque said. “If I would have been a young kid being able to watch this game, I would have been over the moon.”

That sentiment echoed throughout the building.

This wasn’t just about elite athletes performing—it was about visibility. About possibility.

Winnipeg has long been known as a hockey city. But Sunday night felt like a different kind of statement.

From warm-up to overtime, the crowd was engaged, loud, and emotionally invested. This wasn’t passive appreciation—it was full-throttle support.

And the numbers told the story: a full house of 15,321, many of whom came to see something they hadn’t experienced live before. 

Young girls leaned over railings for autographs. Families waved signs. Every big save, every rush, every near-miss was met with a collective gasp or eruption.

Larocque understood the significance.

“They’ve been able to watch us on TV for a few years now, but to see us live, it’s definitely different,” she said. 

Of course, if Larocque represented the emotional centrepiece, Kati Tabin delivered one of the game’s most electric near-moments.

The Winnipeg native, playing for Montreal, had her chance late in the third period—a breakaway that felt destined to send the building into chaos. With under eight minutes remaining and the game tied 1-1, Tabin broke free. For a split second, everything slowed.

Kati Tabin by James Carey Lauder

Then Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips shut the door.

The save kept the game even—but the moment lingered.

It was one of those plays that felt bigger than the result. A hometown player, in front of her people, inches away from a defining goal. Fact is, Tabin had required roughly 80 tickets for family and friends. Larocque had closer to 280 in attendance. 

For much of the night, it was a goaltending duel.

Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens was sharp, turning aside 26 shots. At the other end, Philips matched her with 20 saves, including the crucial stop on Tabin.

The game unfolded as a tight, defensive battle—structured, physical, and patient.

Ottawa struck first in the second period when Gabbie Hughes buried her fourth of the season off a crisp passing sequence. Montreal answered midway through the frame, as Abby Roque won a clean faceoff back to Nicole Gosling, who hammered home the equalizer.

From there, it became a test of discipline and resilience.

And then, chaos.

he final minutes of regulation were anything but quiet.

With under three minutes remaining, Ottawa’s Rebecca Leslie was called for goaltender interference, giving Montreal a prime chance to take control.

Instead, the Charge nearly flipped the script entirely.

Short-handed, Emily Clark and Brianne Jenner broke in alone on a two-on-none—but Desbiens came up with a stunning stick save to keep the game alive. Moments later, a Montreal penalty erased the advantage.

Not surprisingly, overtime loomed.

Of course, in OT, it was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment

Just 12 seconds into overtime Rebecca Leslie delivered the winner. On a carryover power play, she capitalized instantly, igniting the Ottawa bench.

For Ottawa, it was another chapter in a season defined by tight games and extra time. For Montreal, it was a missed opportunity. For Winnipeg, it was a night to remember.

“We were just so excited to play in front of… the whole province of Manitoba,” she said. “It’s a hockey province and this was something special.”

The Winnipeg Jets had another shot at moving up the standings in the Western Conference playoff race, but fell just short once again.

This time it was by way of a 4-3 shootout loss to fellow Central Division rivals, the Nashville Predators.

After a back-and-forth opening 40 minutes, Nashville pulled ahed 3-2 late in the third period.

Winnipeg responded with Connor Hellebuyck on the bench for the extra attacker, as Jonathan Toews tied the game on his ninth of the season with just 1:01 to play.

The game needed extra time - to which neither team could find the winner. A shootout then occurred, with Nashville's first shooter, Ryan O'Reilly, potting the decisive goal.

None of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele or Gabe Vilardi could muster up a goal in the shootout for Winnipeg.

Vilardi and Josh Morrissey scored the other goals for Winnipeg, which fell to two points behind Nashville in the standings and four behind Seattle for the final wild card spot in the west.

The game also marked the final test of the eight-game homestand for Winnipeg, to which the Jets now hit the road for three games in four days in Boston, Pittsburgh and New York.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. Nashville is courtesy of Danny Truong:

QUOTEABLE:

Jonathan Toews on if his goal was his biggest moment as a Jet thus far:

“I don’t know. It’s nice to score in a situation like that. Going down the stretch, you’re going to be in some tight games. So, it’s nice to have some confidence when you go out there, whether it’s a power play or a six-man unit to score one late and get back in a game like that.”

Gabe Vilardi on the eight-game homestand:

"We've been winning and picking up points, so it's been pretty good. You know, we got to keep going though. Every game's playoff mode right now for us. That's the position we put ourselves in because of our earlier in the season trouble. Right now we're in playoff mode obviously, and we got to preferably get two points but what are you going to do?”

WHAT’S NEXT:

The Jets finally hit the road after what was a season-long, eight-game homestand (5-2-1). Next up are games in Boston, Pittsburgh and New York over the weekend before the team returns home for Tuesday/Thursday matchups with the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche.

The most confounding team in the NHL won its second straight game despite being outplayed at every level of the game.

And they did it thanks to a surprising hero.

Defenceman Haydn Fleury scored his first goal and also dished out his first assist as a member of the Winnipeg Jets as Winnipeg held on to beat the visiting St. Louis Blues 3-2.

After beating Colorado 3-1 on Saturday -- despite being outplayed -- the Jets came back on Sunday, were outshot 31-16 and seldom got the puck out of their own in the final 40 minutes and yet won their second straight and got back to .500 at 28-28-10.

Amazingly, they are also in a playoff hunt, now just four points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

It has been a crazy season and with 16 games left to play it could very well get even crazier.

On Sunday, the Jets opened the scoring early (2:31) in the first period when defenceman Haydn Fleury took a nice pass from Brad Lambert and ripped a shot over the shoulder of Winnipeg-born St. Louis goaltender Joel Hofer. It was Fleury’s first goal as a member of the Jets and Brad Lambert’s first assist of the season. Morgan Barron, who started the play, also drew an assist. It had been 817 days since Fleury last scored a goal.

Scheifele beats Hofer (Photo. by Danny Truong)

Five minutes later, Mark Scheifele was sent in alone by Josh Marrissey and he made no mistake flipping a shot over the pad of Hofer. It was Scheifele’s 31st of the year (he would have looked really good on the Canadian Olympic Team) and Morrissey’s 34th assist of the campaign.

St. Louis outshot Winnipeg 9-6 in the first period and had some scoring opportunities, but Eric Comrie was superb in the Jets net.

For the first 15 minutes of the second period, it appeared as if the ice was tilted toward Comrie’s net. The Jets had a terrible time getting the puck out of their own end for long stretches at a time and yet Comrie and the defence did a great job keeping the puck at bay. Neither team could score and while St. Louis outshot Winnipeg 6-4, the Blues didn’t have many great scoring chances.

The Blues finally got on the board at 5:17 of the third when Dalibor Dvorsky converted a great pass from Jonatan Berggren on what was, essentially, a four-on-one Blues rush. It was Dvorsky’s 10th of the season.

But the Jets bounced back with about eight minutes left in the period. The Blues were about to be handed a delayed minor penalty when Morgan Barron hit a streaking Kyle Connor with a perfect stretch pass at the Blues blueline. Connor went in alone and scored his 31st of the season with a nifty move that froze poor Hofer. It was a brilliant goal, a highlight-reel goal and truly fun to watch. As well, Haydn Fleury, who was having the game of a lifetime, picked up his first assist of the season to go with his first goal.

Eric Comrie by Danny Truong 

Meanwhile, the Blues kept battling and decided to pull their goaltender with 3:47 to play and it paid off. After controlling the puck for nearly three full minutes, Dylan Holloway scored from in close at 19:09 to cut the Jets lead to 3-2.

But that was all St. Louis could muster and the Blues had lost in regulation for the first time in their last eight outings.

The Blues outshot Winnipeg 16-6 in the third and 31-16 overall. The three stars were 1. Fleury, 2. Barron and 3. Comrie. The Jets won 64 per cent of the faceoffs (that’s rare) and outhit St. Louis 26-13.

The Jets play again on Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre against the Nashville Predators.

Kyle Connor called it a “full team effort.”

No doubt about that. It also proved that the 2025-26 Winnipeg Jets are the strangest, most confounding team in the NHL.

Two nights after the Jets were horrible in a 6-3 loss to the lowly New York Rangers and four nights after they were even worse in a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Jets beat the best team in the National Hockey League, the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in an afternoon affair at Canada Life Centre.

With a near-sellout crowd on Hoser Night (OK, afternoon), the Jets got a goal and an assist from Connor, two assists from Mark Scheifele and a great goaltending effort from Connor Hellebuyck to improve to 27-28-10 on the season.

Better yet, the Jets shook off those two disappointing outings during the week and beat an Avalanche team (now 44-12-9) that controlled the rink, won 58 percent of the faceoffs, outshot Winnipeg 29-18 and looked like a team that should be favoured to win the Stanley Cup.

Nobody saw this one coming.

Especially after Hellebuyck had been so bad against the Rangers on Thursday. On this particular Saturday afternoon, he was brilliant.

The Jets survived the first period, despite being outshot 8-5 (7-2 with five minutes left in the period).

The Jets did have a power play. However, they had no shots and barely got the puck into the Colorado zone. The Avalanche finished the period with a man advantage and appeared ready to unleash their high-powered offence.

However, after the Jets fought off the Avs’ power play, Colorado’s Nathan McKinnon made a (dumb) blind pass at the Jets blueline. Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele picked it up, skated into the Avs zone, found Kyle Connor streaking in late, fed the Jets’ sniper a perfect pass and Connor rifled home his 30th goal of the year at 2:05. Scheifele picked up his 50th assist of the season as the Jets scored on their sixth shot on goal.

Winnipeg made it 2-0 at 11:52 when Alex Iafallo jumped on a rebound off a Scheifele shot and banged the puck behind Colorado goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. Scheifele and Connor drew the assists as Winnipeg found themselves with a two-goal lead after only taking 10 shots on goal.

That lead held up through 40 minutes despite the fact the Avalanche had a glorious scoring chance in the dying seconds of Period 2. Colorado outshot Winnipeg 8-7 in the second (16-12 overall) and yet found themselves two goals down.

In the third. Colorado came out flying and when Jacob Bryson took a high-sticking penalty at the 15-secodn mark, it appeared as if the Avs would finally get on the board. But even though they took the first four shots of the period and had complete control of the Jets zone, they couldn’t beat Hellebuyck.

In fact, Colorado pulled Blackwood with 3:35 remaining and held the Jets zone for almost two minutes, but Hellebuyck and the Jets defence barred the door.

Finally ,with 1:16 left to play, the Jets could no longer fight off the onslaught as Martin Necas fired a shot into an almost empty net as Hellebuyck was laying helpless on the ice. That made it 2-1, it was Necas’s 31st of the year and the Avalanche net remained empty.

However, with 42 seconds remaining, Cole Perfetti stole the puck in his own end and fired a shot from his own blueline into the middle of the Avalanche goal. It was unassisted and Perfetti’s ninth of the season.

Interestingly, Perfetti hit the post of a still-empty Avalanche net just 40 seconds later. So close and yet so far.

The three stars were 1. Connor, 2. Scheifele, and 3. Hellebuyck

For the second-straight game, the Jets fell and fell hard.

After picking up points in six-straight games out of the Olympic break and earning three-straight wins, Winnipeg has now dropped back-to-back contests that truly weren't even close.

The Jets did heavily outshoot the Rangers, but poor goaltending and difficult defensive zone coverage made it all too easy for the Rangers to swoop in and take both points at Canada Life Centre on Thursday.

The game marked the fifth test of the season-long, eight-game homestand for the Jets, to which the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues next roll into town for weekend matinee affairs.

Isak Rosen scored his first as a Jet. Kyle Connor danced Adam Fox for the prettiest goal of the season thus far, while Gabe Vilardi found his 25th of the year. But it was nowhere near enough as the Rangers pumped six into the Jets' net, finishing off their night with an empty-netter as time ticked down.

The second of two-straight losses all but sealed the Jets' fate as an outsider. Next up, the ethical tank, as Winnipeg will look to drop down the standings over the remaining 18 games in hopes of acquiring one of the two top draft picks available at the June's NHL Draft.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. New York is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:

QUOTEABLE:

Kyle Connor on his nifty goal:

"Yeah, it was a great pass. Scheif, kind of, well, Sally started with our D, kind of quick up transition. I thought we did a good job of that. When we did get in the neutral zone, we needed that low speed and or just quick up to the winger. And it kind of started like that, and got the puck, and their D is tough to gap up when the defender, when you were able to do that. And just saw him lean in one way and try to make a move and got it after I had to pull it. Just, yeah, I thought he had a good angle, so that's why I kind of pump fake them and try to get around him."

Isak Rosen on Jacob Bryson picking up the primary assist on his first as a Jet:

“Really good feeling. I told him before the game that we can’t wait any longer. We have to score now. It was good we got one.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

Winnipeg remains at home for a Saturday afternoon affair with the Colorado Avalanche. They stick around for another test on Sunday, when St. Louis rolls into town for another matinee showdown. Both games feature afternoon puck drops.

Booty Shake Monday at the Pal? A team party? Apres ski night?

There must have been something on the Winnipeg Jets' calendar on Monday night, because Tuesday evening's performance against Anaheim was impoverished at best.

It was difficult effort, highlighted that much brighter by the stakes at hand.

Now losing all three games to the Ducks this season, Winnipeg failed to gain any ground in a very tight Western Conference playoff race.

The Jets had just one shot on net through the game's opening 19:59.

They had six shots on goal after 40 minutes, and just 14 at the game's end.

At one point fans were actually cheering for their shots on goal, while bringing out a loud 'shoot the puck' chant.

Morgan Barron got the lone goal for Winnipeg - which actually was the first marker of the game.

But the Ducks stormed right back, scoring moments after Barron's 1-0 tally.

Anaheim kept it going, scoring two more goals for three in a span of 104 seconds or 1:44 of game play.

An empty-net marker sealed the deal, with the Jets unable to find the twine on power plays or with Connor Hellebuyck on the bench for the extra attacker.

They will look to do it all over again on Thursday night against the New York Rangers.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. Anaheim is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:

QUOTEABLE:

Adam Lowry on the Jets' play:

"We were disjointed tonight. It's a disappointing result; obviously, we know where we're at. It was an important game. The only thing we can do now is learn from it, come to the rink tomorrow, try and make sure we have a good practice so that this execution thing, another game like this, doesn't happen on Thursday.”

Morgan Barron on his goal from Elias Salomonsson:

"Salo just kind of found a puck and got it through. And, you know, again, talk about simplifying and how we didn't probably do it enough tonight, but that's one of the few examples that our line had, and really the whole team, I think, of just keeping a simple game. He did a good job getting the shot through and then hits me and goes in."

WHAT’S NEXT:

Winnipeg stays at home for another four games and will hope to get another three-plus games with a point like the past four games have delivered. First it's the New York Rangers who roll into town for a Thursday evening game, before the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche made Central Division appearances over the weekend.

The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

That’s a fact. It can’t be changed.

But in the cold light of dawn (or two weeks later), here is something to ponder. If Canada had sent its best team, would the outcome have been different? I would say yes. Resoundingly.

Before the Olympics began here at Game On, we questioned whether or not Canada was sending its best players to the Games. The excuses, of course, from those who supported Hockey Canada’s selections, ranged from, “well you have to a have a real team with real first, second, third and fourth lines,” to “so-and-so doesn’t play a good defensive game.”

My response was always the same: “The other countries are sending their best players. It’s the coaching staff’s responsibility to work out the lines.”

The team that Canada sent played well through the preliminary-round but really struggled in the medal-round. They were fortunate to beat Czechia and Finland in the quarterfinals and semifinal and because they couldn’t score, lost the gold medal game to the U.S.

In that championship game, head coach Jon Cooper wore out Nathan McKinnon, Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, running them out for extra shifts, double shifts and prolonged shifts. No wonder they didn’t score. They were too tired to finish.

And therein lies the problem. Canada didn’t have enough goal scorers. Canada didn’t have enough elite players with finish. The United States didn’t beat Canada in the biggest game of the tournament. Canada beat themselves because the people in charge built a team to win the Stanley Cup, not a two-week elite tournament.

As we look at the NHL statistics, we see that six Canadian players have scored 30 goals: McKinnon, McDavid, Celebrini, Morgan Geekie, Steven Stamkos and Mark Scheifele. Interestingly, three of those players were not chosen to represent Canada. Scheifele, the No. 4 overall scorer among Canadian players this season, was overlooked.

Hockey Canada must really hate Mark Scheifele.

Oh, and here’s another interesting player who was overlooked: Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard. He’s the leading scorer among Canadian NHL defencemen and the sixth-leading scorer among Canadian players overall. He might have looked really good with McDavid on the power play.

The Top 12 Canadian forwards in scoring (in order) this season are as follows: McDavid, McKinnon, Celebrini, Scheifele, Nick Suzuki, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Ryan O’Reilly, Sydney Crosby, Sam Reinhart, Connor Bedard (in only 49 games) and tied for 12th, Brandon Hagel, Travis Konecny and Matthew Barzal. Nine of those 14 players were on Canada’s Olympic team.

Of the players that are listed, I would suggest that Canada would have been a better team, a team that would have beaten the USA 4- or 5-1 in the gold medal final if Scheifele, Geekie, Bedard and O’Reilly were on the team and Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson and Bo Horvat weren’t.

Frankly, I believe that a second line of Scheifele, Bedard and Gabriel Vilardi (yes, Gabriel Vilardi), would have given the Canadian coaches more scoring options even with Sydney Crosby injured.

Canada lost the Olympic gold medal because we didn’t send our best players at the moment.

In 2030, if this country wants to win gold, it needs a better brain trust. 

The Winnipeg Jets have now earned points in six-straight games.

Facing off against the Vancouver Canucks in their first game since the trade deadline, the Jets iced a much different looking roster.

Newcomers Isak Rosen and Jacob Bryson suited up for their first games as Jets, while Josh Morrissey made his return to action following an injury suffered at the Olympics. Brad Lambert was also recalled from the minors and inserted into the lineup.

The new guys fared well, but the story of the game came off the stick of Morrissey - more importantly the last few minutes of play from Morrissey, to which he picked up an assist on Gabe Vilardi's game-tying, power play goal and the winner in overtime.

For Morrissey, it was career points No. 416 and 417, putting him one ahead of Dustin Byfuglien for first place on the all-time franchise leaderboard.

Connor Hellebuyck played well in net, while Mark Scheifele got the other goal for Winnipeg. He also stepped up with assists on both other goals.

Next up is Game 4 of the season-long, eight-game homestand, as the Anaheim Ducks fly into town on Tuesday night.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Vancouver is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:

QUOTEABLE:

Scott Arniel on Gabe Vilardi's goal:

"Yeah, that's special. Those are special hands. We were pounding them. We were trying to... Shots were coming, there were all kinds of rebounds. But when Gabe gets one-on-one with the goaltender, that's impressive stuff."

Gabe Vilardi on the upcoming schedule:

“Every game is important. We are in playoff mode right now. We need to get points in every game. We’ve got to keep climbing. I think we’ve got Anaheim, so that’s another team that’s on top of us. They are a little bit higher there in the Pacific, but every game is important right now.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

Winnipeg stays at home and faces the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, before taking on New York on Thursday and Colorado on Saturday.

The Winnipeg Jets have found another way to win a hockey game.

This time, it was by way of a 4-1 final over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.

In scratching Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn for roster management purposes in advance of the NHL's trade deadline, the Jets entered the game with a noticeably thin blue line. But they took care of business against one of the league's very best teams, allowing just one goal for the Lightning, while scoring four of their own.

Gustav Nyquist finally found his first of the season - in game 61 - while Mark Scheifele, Morgan Barron and Kyle Connor scored the others for the hosts, who have now picked up points in all five games coming out of the Olympic break.

The game was No. 2 of a season-high, eight-game homestand, which next sees action on Saturday evening against the Vancouver Canucks.

Connor Hellebuyck was superb in net for Winnipeg once again, stopping 26 of the 27 pucks fired his way, outdoing Andrei Vasilevskiy across the ice.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Tampa Bay is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:

QUOTEABLE:

Mark Scheifele on going offside and then passing to Kyle Connor:

“There was no chance I was shooting another puck the rest of the game. I was going to do everything in my power to get him that goal back because I was so mad at myself. I was very angry with myself there. That is a loss of focus. You should never go offside in that situation - you should never go offside in general, really. I’m going to hear about that one from Oatsie and from a lot of my buddies, trust me. It won’t be a fun conversation or text I’ll be getting from some of the guys. But yeah, I wasn’t going to shoot another puck until KC got one.”

Gus Nyquist on the fans' reaction to his first goal:

"I mean, it feels great, obviously for the support there. I know it's been a long time coming. So, overall, I thought we played a good, really good game all throughout. And then obviously they came out with a push in the third and got the early goal on the power play. And then, so it's nice to put that goal in for 3-1."

WHAT’S NEXT:

Next up is Game 3 of 8 in the homestand for Winnipeg, which sees Vancouver roll into town for a Saturday night clash at Canada Life Centre.

The Winnipeg Jets have now picked up points in six of their last seven games thanks to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Visiting Canada Life Centre for the first game of what will be a season-long, eight-home homestand, Connor Bedard picked up two assists for Chicago, which eventually gave up a late game-tying goal to Cole Perfetti, before Mark Scheifele potted the winner in overtime.

The goal by Scheifele was his 200th career marker at Canada Life Centre.

Winnipeg played without Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk on defence, while Haydn Fleury and Elias Salomonsson filled in nicely in their absence on Tuesday.

Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor were honoured for their gold medal-winning performance at the Olympics, while Morrissey and Nino Niederreiter were also recognized.

Hellebuyck turned aside 18 of the 20 pucks sent his way, while Spencer Knight made 29 save on 32 shots faced.

Dylan Samberg scored the opening goal and collected the primary assist on the game-winner.

Next up for Winnipeg is a test with Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday evening.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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PHOTOS:

The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. Chicago is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:

QUOTEABLE:

Cole Perfetti on his team's mentality moving forward:

“Every game, we’re fighting for our lives at this point. No team is going to hand it over to us. There’s going to be games where we’re up, where we’re down. Tie games going late in the games and we’ve got to make sure that there is no quit. We had a good third period and we were pushing. We weren't able to crack it (until late). But whether we score in the first minute of the period or in the last minute, that fight has to be there throughout the whole time.”

Scott Arniel on Dylan Samberg's goal:

"For Henry, his son, who was born during the break there. So great for Sammy. I think anytime that you can get offence from your back end is huge. Obviously we were up early in the game and yeah. Sammy, he's been squeezing it. He's had some really good looks. He's had some good opportunities over the year and, like I said, when our back end can help with the offence, it goes a long way."

WHAT’S NEXT:

Next up for Winnipeg is the continuation of the eight-game homestand, with a test against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday evening. The Vancouver Canucks then roll into town for an all-Canadian Saturday night showdown.

The Manitoba Moose have maintained their hold of third-place within the American Hockey League's Central Division with a weekend split against the Calgary Wranglers.

The two-game home set featured a 5-1 victory on Saturday, and a 3-2 shootout loss on Monday - Louis Riel Day in Manitoba.

Thomas Milic earned the commanding win on Saturday, before Domenic DiVincentiis was handed the shootout loss in a 65-minute performance two days later.

Samuel Fagemo, Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Danny Zhilkin each recorded two points on Saturday, while Walker Duehr and Brayden Yager also scored for the Moose while Ville Heinola and David Gustafsson picked up goals in Monday's loss.

Following the Monday contests, the Winnipeg Jets recalled a collection of the Moose standouts to serve as fill-ins while three Jets are away in Italy for the Olympics. Duehr, Heinola, DiVincentiis and Elias Salomonsson were called up to the big club for the next few days as the team begins practicing following the lengthy Olympic break.

In a corresponding move, the Moose recalled Isaac Poulter and Ben Zloty from the ECHL.

Manitoba now sits at 23-17-3-1 on the year for 50 points - 27 behind Grand Rapids for first place and eight behind Chicago for second. The Moose are back in action this weekend in a Saturday/Sunday, two-game showdown with the Iowa Wild. Both contests feature 2:00 PM central start times from Canada Life Centre.

Photo highlights vs. Calgary are courtesy of Steve Sasaki and James Carey Lauder: