Remember in May when I was craving a rivalry? Remember when I talked about how easy it would be to build a resentment for certain players on the other team? <a href="https://gameonhockey.ca/2020/05/29/craigs-corner-craving-a-rivalry/">Take a look at this snippet from Craving a Rivalry</a> and see if it’s accurate…

“Hey Jets fans, how long do you think it will take to build a solid resentment for Milan Lucic or Matthew Tkachuk? No longer than a shift? I agree.”

So Jets fans, how long did it take? Not even a period.

Here is our rivalry. It’s finally here. The Jets have their backs against the wall and must win the next two games to move on even though their best players are dropping like flies.

Can Hellebuyck bounce back? Can the back-end stop the Flames’ top talent? Can the Jets’ secondary scoring continue to play the role of primary scoring?

There are so many questions, and all of them are going to be answered on Thursday night.

So, after you’ve finished watching the first round of the PGA Championship, tune into the Jets vs. Flames to find out if it’s going to be Lafreniere watch, or if the Jets will live to fight another day.

Can August get any better?

Craig's Corner: A Rivalry Has Been Found

<h2>Lambert scores his first NHL Goal as the Jets beat the penguins 5-2</h2>For the Winnipeg Jets, it was another near-masterpiece.&nbsp;Gabriel Vilardi scored just 15 seconds into the game, Brad Lambert scored his first NHL goal and Kyle Connor had the first penalty-shot goal of his career as the Jets started early and never let their collective foot off the proverbial gas.&nbsp;As a result, the Jets whipped the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at Canada Life Centre as Kyle Connor scored twice and Eric Comrie won his second straight start.&nbsp;With the win, the Jets third in a row, Winnipeg moved into first place in the Western Conference with a 9-3-0 record. Vilardi finished with a goal and an assist while Mark Scheifele added a pair of assists as the Jets big line contributed six points to the victory.&nbsp;It was another impressive victory for the Jets who were a tad shaky last week at home, losing two-of-three. But after beating the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime in St. Paul to start the week, the Jets demolished the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 on Thursday night at home and were just as good on Saturday against a Pittsburgh team that was red-hot and is still in first place in the East.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Comrie had another great outing, allowing Connor Hellebuyck a bit of a rest before the Jets upcoming six-game road trip. The backup is now 2-0-0 on the season with a 2.33 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. &nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09137.jpg">Eric Comrie“All three of Comrie’s games have been really, really good,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “He’s going to play a lot more games this season and it’s good to see him playing the way he has.”&nbsp;Vilardi got it all started as the Jets rushed into the Pittsburgh zone to start the game. After Scheifele had a chance to score, Vilardi picked up the puck behind the Penguins net and banked it off goaltender Arturs Silovs skate for his fifth of the season. Josh Morrissey and Scheifele each picked up an assist, their 10th assists each this season.&nbsp;At 2:43, the Jets made it 2-0 as Brad Lambert took a pass from Parker Ford on the Pittsburgh doorstep and made no mistake to record his first NHL goal. Ford and Cole Koepke picked up the assists as the Jets took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.&nbsp;“Obviously I’ve been dreaming about that moment, back to when I was playing road hockey as a kid,” Lambert said, when asked about his first NHL goal. “It’s pretty special.”<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/brad-lambert's-first-nhl-goal.jpg">&nbsp;Lambert's First NHL GoalAt 1:17 of the second period, Vladislav Namestnikov scored his sixth of the campaign as he tipped home a perfect crossing pass from Jonathan Toews. Alex Iafallo also earned an assist while Toews picked up his fifth helper of the young season.&nbsp;Winnipeg made it 4-0 at 12:13 of the period on a very strange play. Silovs lost the puck behind his own net, Connor picked it up and just as he was going to deposit the puck into the empty net. Silovs threw his stick at the puck and knocked it across the crease and out of harms’ way. That resulted in a penalty shot and Connor made no mistake, deking Silovs out if position and flipping the puck over the sprawling goaltender and into the back of the net. It was Connor’s seventh goal of the year, and the first penalty shot goal of his career.&nbsp;“I kind of didn’t know what was going on,” said Connor, admitting it was the first time a goaltender had ever thrown a stick at him. “Missing an open net was going through my mind. I actually didn’t know the rule. They were discussing whether it was a goal or a penalty and I didn’t really expect a penalty shot. It’s nice to get another shot at it with the penalty shot.”&nbsp;Pittsburgh got back into it with 11 seconds to go in the period as Sidney Crosby scored his ninth of the year to make it 4-1 and then, at the 10:27 mark of the third, Blake Lizotte banged home a loose puck in the Jets crease to make it interesting at 4-2 as The Pas’ Connor Dewar picked up an assist.&nbsp;However, at 18:39, with Pittsburgh’s net empty, Scheifele got the puck to Vilardi who put it on Connor’s stick and the Jets veteran fired it from centre ice into the gaping cage to make it 5-2. Connor’s eighth of the year put the cork in the bottle as the Jets recorded their ninth win in 12 outings.&nbsp;Winnipeg outshot Pittsburgh 34-30 and outhit the visitors 29-18. Pittsburgh 54.2 per cent of the faceoffs. The Penguins went one-for-two on the power play while the Jets were zero-for-three.&nbsp;The Jets, who are 4-0-0 away from home this season, will now head out on a six-game road trip that starts Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Game begins at 9:30 p.m. and can be seen on TSN3.

Connor scores twice and Comrie gets the win as Winnipeg whips Pittsburgh 5-2

<h2>Jets dismantle blackhawks in toews' first game vs. Chicago</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have moved to 8-3-0 with a dominant 6-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday evening.The game was the first of two home contests before the Jets hit the road for a season-high six-game stretch through the wild west. Mark Scheifele, Gabe Vilardi and Kyle Connor each put up three points on the night, highlighted by Vilardi's two-goal outing. Winnipeg lost winger Gustav Nyquist midway through the first period on a battle play head coach Scott Arniel said "tweaked something" on his first-year Jet forward.Connor Hellebuyck made 21 stops on the 24 pucks sent his way, while Chicago's Spencer Knight did not look good, as he allowed six goals on 33 shots on net. The game marked the first of Jonathan Toews' career against the Blackhawks - the team he captained from 2008-23. He wasn't involved much in the offence, but did muster up one assist on Josh Morrissey's first goal of the season. Next up is a test with Sidney Crosby and the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 2:00 PM central time. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1984059761315512501">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1984059761315512501</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1984067279731224585">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1984067279731224585</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1984069928664887576">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1984069928664887576</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Chicago is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00067.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09937.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_3732.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a7223go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6063go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00873.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5907go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_3714.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08428.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8673go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8434go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/b00b18d7-142b-4828-b330-c9258175ef56.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01112.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_3719.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9595go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9466go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a7761go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0388go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0312go.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Scott Arniel on Winnipeg's overall game:“Yeah, that was a real good game. I thought that, there's little things that happen over the course of a game, I don't know if there ever is a perfect 60, but that was one of our best of the year. I liked a lot of what we did, whether that was our coverage, whether than was our breakouts. I thought we were really good on our breakouts. They're a quick, young team and I thought we did a good job, for the most part, trying to stay over top of them and slow them down and, obviously, we capitalized on all our chances.”Gabe Vilardi on his vantage point for Kyle Connor's backhand goal:“It was a nasty view, I’ll tell you that. It was a pretty cool goal to see from there. I was just trying to make a wall - throw it back door, and maybe it hits me and goes in, but he did a nice play, that was nice.” WHAT’S NEXT:Next up for Winnipeg is a Saturday afternoon matinee with Pittsburgh. The Jets will then take off on the road for six-straight games through the midway point of November.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 6 Chicago Blackhawks 3

<h2>JETS APPEAR SLUGGISH AGAIN, FALL 3-2 to VISITING UTAH</h2>The Winnipeg Jets are really starting to miss Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti.&nbsp;Once again, an anemic offence cost the Jets a game as the red-hot Utah Mammoth came to town, beat the Jets 3-2 and claimed their seventh straight victory.“We still haven’t put together a 60-minute game," head coach Scott Arniel said following the game. "For me, it’s pieces of the third. I liked a lot of what happened in the first (period), but the second was way too sloppy. Way too easy for the opposition.”The Jets, meanwhile, just lost two games in a three-game homestand after winning five in a row. This time they looked quite lethargic for the first two periods. Just as they did on Thursday night against Seattle&nbsp;The Jets are now 6-3-0 to start the season while the first-place Mammoth improved to 8-2-0. Right now, the Jets have only one line – Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor -- that can score consistently and if a team shuts it down, that team has a great chance to beat the Jets.&nbsp;On this night at Canada Life Centre, the Mammoth allowed the Jets big line to score twice, shut everyone else down and claimed another victory.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09039.jpg">“They came as advertised," defenceman Dylan DeMelo said of the Mammoth. "We knew that they have been playing really good hockey. A good up and coming team and every year they seem to get better and better. It was a tight game. It felt like we had some self-inflicted wounds that ended up costing us in the end.”The first period was a scoreless, pedestrian affair. In fact, it looked a lot like the Jets first period against Seattle on Thursday night, a game that ended with Winnipeg giving up two empty net goals to lose 3-0.&nbsp;The Jets had a half dozen of scoring chances (on two of them they shot wide) while Utah had none. Winnipeg outshot the Mammoth 8-6, but the fans didn’t rise out of the seats too often.&nbsp;In the second, the Jets got on the board quickly. Kyle Connor stole the puck in the neutral zone, carried it into the Utah zone, fed Josh Morrissey at the point who passed across to Dylan DeMelo who ripped his first goal of the season, at the 45 second mark, past Utah’s Vitek Vanecek. It was Connor’s seventh assist of the season and Morrissey’s sixth. It was also the 300th assist of Morrissey’s career.&nbsp;However, on their second d straight power play, the Mammoth tied it, as Nick Schmaltz won a faceoff, got it back to Mikhail Sergachev and he beat Connor Hellebuyck on the short side to tie the game at 10:03.&nbsp;One minute and four seconds later – on a two-on-one -- Michael Carcone took a pass from Kailer Yamamoto and beat a sprawling Hellebuyck to make it 2-1 Utah. At this stage, the Jets weren’t even in it.&nbsp;And yet, the Jets tied it on the power-play at 15:09 when Mark Scheifele scored his eighth of the season by whipping a wrister from the slot right between Vanecek’s legs. Morrissey and Gabriel Vilardi drew the assists, and this one was deadlocked after two periods.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/48d76217-aeed-4f74-b5b0-dd4bb556b470.jpg">The Mammoth outshot Winnipeg 14-7 in the second period and were up 20-15 overall. Frankly, the Jets were fortunate to be even after 40 minutes.&nbsp;In the first four minutes of the third period, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor missed two glorious scoring opportunities, then during a four-on-four situation eight minutes into the period, Jonathan Toews, Hayden Fleury and Alex Iafallo were all foiled by Vanacek on the same rush. Those missed opportunities would come back to haunt the Jets.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_3262.jpg">&nbsp;At the 14:24 mark of the period, the Jets Hayden Fleury fell in the corner in his own end, lost the puck to J.J. Peterka, who fed Logan Cooley who fed Dylan Guenther who beat Hellebuyck on the short side once again to score what proved to be the winning goal.&nbsp;Utah outshot Winnipeg 32-27 on the evening,&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09283.jpg">Once again, the officiating smelled like betting apps were involved, but it smells like that every night. Especially when Garrett Rank and Corey Syvret call a game. The Jets had two power plays to Utah’s four.

Jets Lethargic again, fall 3-2 to Utah Mammoth

<h2>Jets put out lowly flames in friday night showdown</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets took care of business on Friday night in a 5-3 home win over the visiting Calgary Flames. Winnipeg was the site of the second game in two nights for the Jets and middle game in a span of three games in four days.After falling to Seattle on Thursday night, Winnipeg bounced back to improve its record to 6-2-0 on the year before getting ready to take on the Utah Mammoth for the first time on Sunday evening. Josh Morrissey had three assists, while Gabe Vilardi and Mark Scheifele each had two points on the night. Winnipeg got its goals from Vilardi, Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo, Vlad Namestnikov and Jonathan Toews, who scored his first goal at home while playing for his hometown team. Calgary responded with three tallies, but it wasn't enough, as Namestnikov put the cherry on top with an empty-netter as time ticked down.Six-foot-seven Logan Stanley fought six-foot-eight Adam Klapka at centre ice in one of the largest fights ever, while Eric Comrie picked up his second win of the season as he gave Connor Hellebuyck a day off in advance of Sunday's contest vs. Utah.HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981875888649298280">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981875888649298280</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981879584275730488">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981879584275730488</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981893806158233610">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981893806158233610</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981895717733236933">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981895717733236933</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981898318046531650">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981898318046531650</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981912384005648813">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981912384005648813</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981914045621174369">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981914045621174369</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981926306721005767">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981926306721005767</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981927323973881968">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1981927323973881968</a> PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Friday's game vs. Calgary is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08415.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06969.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08468.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08519.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07187-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07083.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06694.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07319.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07388.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Jonathan Toews on his standing ovation following his first goal of the season at home:“It’s a lot of fun to play in this building. I’ve always loved coming here in the past and it was always great energy. There are no better hockey fans in the world. It’s nice to be on the right side now and to score a goal and hear the crowd. It definitely gives you some jump out there.”Josh Morrissey on Jonathan Toews:"That's pretty awesome. I mean, I think the thing I've really noticed since the we signed him is just the love for &nbsp;him in the city and province and &nbsp;then also, as I've gotten to know him, that love is reciprocated. It was really exciting, for him to sign back here, and meant a lot for him to be coming back to Winnipeg and his home province. So, we &nbsp;knew it was a matter of time before he'd get the first one here at home. And it's pretty special, I'm sure, for him and his family, and for us to witness that as well."WHAT’S NEXT:Next up for Winnipeg is the final test of the stretch of three games in four nights, as the Utah Mammoth make their way to Canada Life Centre on Sunday.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 5 Calgary Flames 3

<h2>Jets shut out by joey daccord, drop to 5-2 on the season</h2>The Winnipeg Jets five-game winning streak came to an ugly end on Thursday night.&nbsp;With two empty net goals in the final two minutes of the contest, the Seattle Kraken beat the Jets 3-0 in a sleepy affair in front of 13,690 at Canada Life Centre.&nbsp;The less said about this one the better. The Jets simply laid an egg, Seattle took advantage of a surprisingly flat Winnipeg team to grab a road win against one of the hottest teams in the league. The locals will have to pick it up on Friday night when the Calgary Flames come to town."Hopefully we can be a mature group here and take what we can from that game and not get too down on ourselves for not getting on there," forward Kyle Connor said after the game.The Jets looked a tad sluggish in the first period, but they did have the best chance to score. With only seconds left on the clock, Scheifele hit the cross bar behind Seattle’s Joey Daccord, but that was it.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05535.jpg">Seattle's Joey DaccordWinnipeg outshot Seattle 10-9 in what was a pretty pedestrian opening period.&nbsp;In the second, Seattle’s Jaden Schwartz opened the scoring at 2:28 as he banged home a loose puck in the slot. It was his third goal of the season.&nbsp;The second period ended with Seattle up 1-0 and the Jets just didn’t look like a team that was going to do much if anything on this night. Seattle outshot Winnipeg 11-8 in the second period, and really, it was a giant nothingburger.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_9027.jpg">&nbsp;In the third, the Jets came out with some jump and outshot the Kraken 10-1 to start the period, but they just couldn’t solve the riddle of Joey Daccord.&nbsp;Seattle put a cork in it at 18:20 as Schwartz scored his second of the night into an empty net to give the Kraken a 2-0 lead. Jordan Eberle scored another empty-netter just 33 seconds later and the building emptied.&nbsp;Winnipeg outshot Seattle 32-28, 12-7 in the third. The Jets outhit Seattle 32-13 and won 57.4 per cent of the faceoffs, but proved once again that stats are for losers.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_9026.jpg">It was a disappointing loss and must be forgotten quickly. After a,,. the Calgary Flames come to town on Friday night for a 7 p.m. date. The Jets have to be better.

Jets Five-Game Winning Streak Halted by Seattle

<h2>SCHEIFELE FIRST STAR AS JETS WHIP PREDS 4-1</h2>The Winnipeg Jets are on a heater.&nbsp;Saturday night in front of a near-sellout (14,309) at Canada Life Centre, the Jets played an outstanding game and got terrific performances from Vladislav Namestnikov, Connor Hellebuyck, Jonathan Toews and Logan Stanley (yes, Logan Stanley) as they whipped the Nashville Predators 4-1.&nbsp;It was Winnipeg’s fourth straight win as the Jets improved to 4-1-0 early in the 2025-26 season, but it was also a statement game for a number of players.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02839.jpg">Mark Scheifele scored his sixth goal in five games and became the all-time leading scorer (813 points) in Jets 2.0 history, surpassing Blake Wheeler; Toews played his best game of the year, picked up two assists and appears to be shaking off the rust from two seasons out of the game; and Stanley, well Stanley was simply terrific.&nbsp;In the second period, the oft-maligned 6-foot-7 D-man easily handled big Michael McCarron in a second-period semi-fight (the penalties were assessed for “fighting,” but the semantics could be argued) and then added his second goal of the year early in the third period.&nbsp;When one considers that the three stars were Scheifele, Stanley and Hellebuyck, you get an idea what the evening was like. In all, it was a terrific Hockey Night in Canada for the Jets.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07738.jpg">Winnipeg opened the scoring on the power-play at 2:39 of the first period as Scheifele drilled a one-timer past Juuse Saros. It was a perfect three-way passing play as Scheifele scored his sixth of the year from Kyle Connor and Alex Iafallo.&nbsp;At 10:25 the Jets made it 2-0 as Vladislav Namestnikov laid a perfect stretch pass onto the stick of Nino Niederreiter who went in alone on Saros and made a wide deke to score his second of the season. Dylan DeMelo also drew an assist.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02801.jpg">Winnipeg outshot Nashville 11-4 in the first period and pretty much dominated play.&nbsp;In the second period, Nashville outshot Winnipeg 16-4, but it was a superb period for the Jets. Yeah, I know, that sounds like an oxymoron, but when you consider the Jets started the period with three chintzy minor penalties then picked up the chintziest of all penalties late in the period, Winnipeg’s penalty-killing unit was splendid.Winnipeg started the period with Morgan Barron in the box for tripping at the 20:00 minute mark of the first period. Then Parker Ford picked up a tripping penalty at 4:40 when Michael Bunting just fell down (sometimes it pays to be a lousy skater) and then with 44 second left in Ford’s penalty, Tanner Pearson was handed an interference penalty when Nick Blankenburg just nonchalantly skated in front of Pearson then fell down.&nbsp;The Jets gave up a few shots while a man (or two) short but there were only a few good scoring chances and reigning MVP Connor Hellebuyck cleaned those up.&nbsp;At the 19:43 mark of the period, Josh Morrissey picked up the stupidest penalty in 15 seasons of Jets hockey when he was assessed a minor for playing without a helmet. Referees Kendrick Nicholson and Graham Skilliter were just making them up as they went along at this stage.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03160.jpg">To their credit, the Jets killed off all the penalties in the second period and still led 2-0 after 40 minutes.&nbsp;In the third, the Jets fought off the Morrissey penalty, then at 5:26, Logan Stanley scored his second goal of the season when he unleashed a shot clocked at 94.4 miles per hour that Saros never saw until it came flying out off the back of the net. Gustav Nyquist picked up his third assist of the season and Jonathan Toews contributed his second (NOTE: Connor McDavid has zero goals this season. Logan Stanley has two).&nbsp;The Jets played exceptional defensive hockey for the remainder of the period, but at 16:52, the second power-play unit struck. Toews laid a perfect pass onto the stick of Namestnikov who ripped it top-shelf past Saros. It was Namestnikov’s second of the year and second point of the night. Toews picked up his third assist of the year and second of the night and Niederreiter picked up his third assist of the year and second point of the night.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03226.jpg">Sadly, Hellebuyck lost his shutout at the 18:56 mark of the third when Michael Bunting squeezed it past the reigning Vezina Trophy winner to make the final score 4-1.&nbsp;Nashville outshot Winnipeg 31-24, outhit Winnipeg 19-16 and won 58.5 per cent of the faceoffs, but amazingly they were never really in the game. It was a great night for Winnipeg, but an odd one on the statistics sheet.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05902.jpg">&nbsp;The Jets play again Monday night in Calgary (8:30 p.m. on TSN3) and then play at home again on Thursday night as the Seattle Kraken come to town. Game time is 7 p.m.

Scheifele, Stanley, Toews and Hellebuyck Stand Out as the Jets Beat Nashville 4-1

<h2>Jets Beat KINGs at home</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have found their first victory of the 2025-26 NHL season. After dropping their opener 5-4 to the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Winnipeg bounced back with a 3-2 home win over the visiting Los Angeles Kings in a matinee affair on Saturday. The Jets jumped ahead early on a first period power play marker before falling asleep for 19 minutes of the second period.After giving up two goals to the Kings in the middle stanza, Mark Scheifele scored with 1:03 remaining in the period to tie the game at twos.He then found the winner midway through the third period, redirecting a soft, floating point shot from Josh Morrissey, pulling Winnipeg ahead 3-2 - to which the game would end.The Jets were tested heavily once again on the penalty kill, but the four and three-men units would stand the test of time, denying all five Kings power plays, with Hellebuyck slamming the door on 29 of the 31 shots he faced. Next up is a two-game road trip out east, where the Jets will face New York on the Island on Tuesday morning before facing the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. Both games can be found on TSN. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977068596246479309">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977068596246479309</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977072614557598036">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977072614557598036</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977093058228584510">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977093058228584510</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977103441207128302">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1977103441207128302</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday game vs. Los Angeles is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00483.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00608.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00629.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06035.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00798.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00829.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00876.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00938.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00974.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01144.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01099.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01135.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01174.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01254.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Josh Morrissey on the game-winner:"Yeah, I think if you look at the flow of the game, we came out great. We had a great first period, second period, they got to their game. And, &nbsp;I'd say one sort of majority of that second period, and then in third it's up for grabs. And, you know, we got out there had some really good ozone shifts, kind of, I thought, started to turn momentum there. And then, we got out there with Scheif’s line, we're trying to be aggressive, trying to put the pressure on them. And, it was big, big goal at a big time in that game to kind of give us a chance to close it out and win that hockey game."Mark Scheifele on getting a better start than last game:“I don’t know actually. We weren’t happy with the last game. We know L.A. is a tough team. They make it a hard day all around. We knew we had to come out strong and we were happy with the way we started. We kind of had a little lull, but kudos to the boys for sticking with it.” WHAT’S NEXT:Next up for Winnipeg is two-game, Eastern Conference road trip through New York and Philadelphia. They will face off on the Island at 12:00 noon on Tuesday and 6:00 PM central on Thursday in Philadelphia.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Los Angeles Kings 2

<h2>Jets Fall again to rival stars</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to 0-1-0 on the season following a 5-4 opening night loss to the Dallas Stars. On the night the team hung its Central Division Champion and Presidents' Cup banners in the rafters and honoured their multi trophy-winning goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck allowed five goals - including three in short order at the start of the third period, which ultimately did the Jets in.Kyle Connor, fresh off his $96 million contract extension, scored three goals, including two in the third period to make it a one-goal game, but the Jets were unable to fully bounce back and could not find the equalizer with Hellebuyck on the bench in the dying seconds. Morgan Barron got Winnipeg's other goal, on what was a sensational shorthanded effort, to which he beat out two members of the Stars to the Dallas net before tucking the puck past Jake Oettinger. In all, it wasn't a horrible game for Winnipeg, just a stretch of 2:22 that saw the visitors strike three times. And it ultimately did the Jets in.Jonathan Toews made his return to the NHL on Thursday, to which he skated in over 18 minutes of ice time, while playing alongside Nikita Chibrikov and Gustav Nyquist/Alex Iafallo on the team's second line. He also played some minutes on the Jets' second power play unit.And he didn't look all that out of place.With time, the 37-year-old should be able to find himself in a comfortable spot when his regular linemates return from injury.The start will not be one that Hellebuyck looks back fondly upon. Luckily it will only be a day-and-a-half until the Jets are back in action, as the Los Angeles Kings make their way to town for a 12:30 PM affair on Saturday afternoon. That game can be streamed live on TSN. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976416157554139550">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976416157554139550</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976432418824540543">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976432418824540543</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976437763479355679">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976437763479355679</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976439245247218155">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976439245247218155</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976439536998809984">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976439536998809984</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976449634840289661">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976449634840289661</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976479152699240527">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976479152699240527</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976487045297266774">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1976487045297266774</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Dallas is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09443.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09601.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09526.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05327.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05330.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09740.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09743-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09840.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09886.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09866-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05478.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05534.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05634.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05558.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05666.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Jonathan Toews on his emotions after returning to the game after 910 days away:“I think it is just really exciting before the game. But then once you get your legs out under you, you just go out there and play. But as the game went on you just try not to think about it too much and just enjoyed it. You enjoy it when you play your best, and I just tried to find a way to do that.”&nbsp;Kyle Connor on his team's response being down 5-1:"I mean, that's it. You know, we didn't play a complete 60 tonight. Parts the first, second, we showed spurts of it. And, obviously the five on three, it's almost, it's right there. We almost get it. And, then bad balance and negative momentum. Next thing we're down a couple goals. And you give it a good team like that, 5-1 lead, it's tough, but this is a resilient group. We've shown that a lot throughout the last year and over the past. And yeah, it was a great response. So we can take that out of it for sure." WHAT’S NEXT:Next up for Winnipeg is a Saturday afternoon affair, as the Los Angeles Kings roll into town for a 12:30 PM central start.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 4 Dallas Stars 5

<h2>Jets Beat Flames 4-2 To win first pre-season game of 2025</h2>Sure, it was just a practice game. And yes, nobody outside the coaching staff will ever remember it was played.But on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre, a number of young Winnipeg Jets made themselves known to the team’s brain trust.Brayden Yager, Parker Ford, Nikita Chibrikov and Jaret Anderson-Dolan all played very well as the Jets won their first pre-season game of 2025, a 4-2 win over the visiting Calgary Flames.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3574go.jpg">While Neal Pionk, Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey were the best players on the ice and Eric Comrie played very well in net, the kids were solid as the Jets built up a 4-1 lead after two periods and coasted to what was, essentially, a meaningless victory.It was hardly a Rembrandt, no pre-season games are artistic, but the Jets, with a lineup that included Pionk, Vilardi, Morrissey, Jonathan Toews, Dylan Samberg, Mark Scheifele, Cole Perfetti and Kyle Connor, easily handled a collection of young Flames who will likely spend more time in Stockton than Calgary this season.&nbsp;Off the opening faceoff, the Jets had some jump, attacked quickly and took an early lead.Former Flames winger Walker Duehr opened the scoring for Winnipeg at 5:12 of the first period as he flew down the right wing fired a pass across the crease that deflected off Flame D-man Joel Handley and past Calgary netminder Devin Cooley.&nbsp; Neal Pionk drew the only assist.At 12:02, Nikita Chibrikov took a pass from Brayden Yager in the slot and made it 2-0 with a blistering shot past Cooley.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0411go.jpg">Then, after Calgary’s Zayne Parekh scored a power play goal at 13:16, the Jets made it 3-1 at 17:37, when Jaret Anderson-Dolan drove down the leftwing and fed a perfect pass through the Flames crease that Parker Ford tipped past Cooley.The Jets were in control, but they should have been. They were essentially playing the Stockton Heat.The Jets scored the only goal of the second period when Neal Pionk fired a blast from the point on the power play at 11:41. Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Chibrikov drew the assists.After two periods, the shots were 18 apiece but the Jets led 4-1.In the third period, Calgary’s kids came out flying and were peppering Eric Comrie with shots when Yan Kuznetsov scored at 5:23 to make it 4-2, but that’s as close as they’d get.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1987go.jpg">Winnipeg outshot Calgary 29-24 and the Jets won 60.4 per cent of the faceoffs. Calgary outhit Winnipeg 21-13.&nbsp;Pionk, Chibrikov and Comrie were the three stars, but Yager could easily have been part of that group.The Jets, now 1-3 in the pre-season, play another practice game on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul. Game time is 7 p.m.

Youngsters Shine as Jets Beat Flames 4-2 to Claim First Pre-Season Win

<h2>Jets Beat Flames 4-2 To win first pre-season game of 2025</h2>Sure, it was just a practice game. And yes, nobody outside the coaching staff will ever remember it was played.But on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre, a number of young Winnipeg Jets made themselves known to the team’s brain trust.Brayden Yager, Parker Ford, Nikita Chibrikov and Jaret Anderson-Dolan all played very well as the Jets won their first pre-season game of 2025, a 4-2 win over the visiting Calgary FlamesWhile Neal Pionk, Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey were the best players on the ice and Eric Comrie played very well in net, the kids were solid as the Jets built up a 4-1 lead after two periods and coasted to what was, essentially, a meaningless victory.It was hardly a Rembrandt, no pre-season games are artistic, but the Jets, with a lineup that included Pionk, Vilardi, Morrissey, Jonathan Toews, Dylan Samberg, Mark Scheifele, Cole Perfetti and Kyle Connor, easily handled a collection of young Flames who will likely spend more time in Stockton than Calgary this season.&nbsp;Off the opening faceoff, the Jets had some jump, attacked quickly and took an early lead.Former Flames winger Walker Duehr opened the scoring for Winnipeg at 5:12 of the first period as he flew down the right wing fired a pass across the crease that deflected off Flame D-man Joel Handley and past Calgary netminder Devin Cooley.&nbsp; Neal Pionk drew the only assist.At 12:02, Nikita Chibrikov took a pass from Brayden Yager in the slot and made it 2-0 with a blistering shot past Cooley.Then, after Calgary’s Zayne Parekh scored a power play goal at 13:16, the Jets made it 3-1 at 17:37, when Jaret Anderson-Dolan drove down the leftwing and fed a perfect pass through the Flames crease that Parker Ford tipped past Cooley.The Jets were in control, but they should have been. They were essentially playing the Stockton Heat.The Jets scored the only goal of the second period when Neal Pionk fired a blast from the point on the power play at 11:41. Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Chibrikov drew the assists.After two periods, the shots were 18 apiece but the Jets led 4-1.In the third period, Calgary’s kids came out flying and were peppering Eric Comrie with shots when Yan Kuznetsov scored at 5:23 to make it 4-2, but that’s as close as they’d get.&nbsp;Winnipeg outshot Calgary 29-24 and the Jets won 60.4 per cent of the faceoffs. Calgary outhit Winnipeg 21-13.&nbsp;Pionk, Chibrikov and Comrie were the three stars, but Yager could easily have been part of that group.The Jets, now 1-3 in the pre-season, play another practice game on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul. Game time is 7 p.m.

Craig's Corner: A Rivalry Has Been Found

Read Next

Connor scores twice and Comrie gets the win as Winnipeg whips Pittsburgh 5-2 | 9 days ago

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 6 Chicago Blackhawks 3 | 11 days ago

Jets Lethargic again, fall 3-2 to Utah Mammoth | 15 days ago

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 5 Calgary Flames 3 | 17 days ago

Jets Five-Game Winning Streak Halted by Seattle | 17 days ago

Scheifele, Stanley, Toews and Hellebuyck Stand Out as the Jets Beat Nashville 4-1 | 22 days ago

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Los Angeles Kings 2 | a month ago

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 4 Dallas Stars 5 | a month ago

Youngsters Shine as Jets Beat Flames 4-2 to Claim First Pre-Season Win | a month ago

Youngsters Shine as Jets Beat Calgary 4-2 to Claim First Pre-Season Win | a month ago

Craig Neufeld

Comments

Top Contributors

Trending Now