It’s here. It’s finally here. Playoff hockey is here after what felt like thirteen years and it’s tough to stay calm.

Did you see the Oilers vs. Flames exhibition game? Now that was fun hockey to watch. Also, when was the last time you heard an exhibition game was fun hockey to watch? Maybe we’re just desperate?

With that being said, on to the predictions. Because I know you are all dying to hear this expert’s opinion on what will develop this postseason. Hey, maybe I’ll get lucky.

Penguins vs. Canadiens

Not a huge rivalry here, but should be fun to watch. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin vs. the best goalie in the world has the makings of a great series. But I don’t think this will be that close. Penguins in 4.

Hurricanes vs. Rangers

The Rangers have a Hart finalist and one of the best goalies in his prime. The Hurricanes are coming off a great Cup run last year and their young talent is ready to shine. Hurricanes in 5.

Islanders vs. Panthers

I don’t plan on watching any of this series. Oops, did I say that out loud. I think Florida will have the advantage of playing in front of an empty rink though, right? Haha…ha…ha… Islanders in 4.

Leafs vs. Blue Jackets

The Leafs have some unbelievable talent up front and a lot of people are talking about them making a run. I also think they are the most overrated team in the playoffs… John Tortorella has the Jackets playing well and they will put up a fight. Leafs in 4.

Oilers vs. Blackhawks

How the tides have turned with the Oilers being the favourite in this series. The Hawks have great depth and solid defence and will be tough to beat. The Oilers have Connor McDavid and… Oh. Okay. Oilers in 3.

Predators vs. Coyotes

Should I bring back the empty arena joke for the Coyotes, too? Or use their GM quitting on them as the joke? Too many jokes to choose from here. Preds in 4.

Canucks vs. Wild

The Wild don’t have a game-breaker and the Canucks look like a solid team. For that reason only, Canucks in 4.

Flames vs. Jets

This may be the best series out of them all. The Flames are strong, but I’ll take goaltending all day. Jets in 4.

The fun starts on Saturday. Happy Hockey Long… oops I mean August Long Weekend.

Craig's Corner: Play-In Prediction Time!

<h2>Moose split long weekend series with wranglers</h2>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: <img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i4970.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i5305.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i5376.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i5372.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i5544.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i5640.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1862p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1639p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0762p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2409p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2356p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2143p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4252p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5467p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5808p.jpg">

Moose Pick Up Three of Four Points in Weekend Set With Calgary

<h2>JETS HEAD INTO BREAK WITH SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS</h2>Inside a Canada Life Centre that actually felt like Centre Bell, the Montreal Canadiens were simply too young and too fast.&nbsp;With a goal and two assists from Josh Andetson and a goal and two assists from Brendan Gallagher, the Hab s walloped the hometown Winnipeg Jets 5-1.&nbsp;However, it did not feel like a hometown game. Canada Life Centre was jam-packed with Montreal Canadiens jerseys and Habs cheered loudly when their favourites scored goal after goal.&nbsp;With the loss, the Jets fell to 22-26-8 at the 2026 Olympic break. Winnipeg will not play again until Feb. 25 in Vancouver.&nbsp;The Jets dominated the first half of the opening period and not only built a 13-5 lead in shots on goal but took a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by Kyle Connor at 6:07.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/vilardis-pass-to-connor-for-the-jets-first-goal.jpg">Vilardi with the great pass to set up Connor (Photo by Danny Truong)Connor, positioned in his “office” to the right of Habs netminder Samuel Montembeault, took a tremendous pass from Gabriel Vilardi and ripped it into the corner for his 25th of the year. Vilardi and Mark Scheifele drew the assists.&nbsp;However, after that goal, the Canadiens took control. Montreal outshot Winnipeg 6-0 in the final seven minutes of the period and tied the game at 16:26 when Oliver Kapanen banged a loose puck into a wide-open Jets net. The building erupted as Kapanen scored his 18th of the season.&nbsp;By the end of the period, the Jets had outshot Montreal 13-11 and had lost a grip of their territorial dominance. It didn’t help that Winnipeg barely won 33 per cent of the faceoffs.&nbsp;In the second period, the Canadiens blew it open. Josh Anderson scored an unassisted goal at 5:28 and then Lane Hutson notched a highlight reel tally on a great move at the net at 6:44 to essentially put it away.&nbsp;The Canadiens youth, speed and confidence was simply too much for a an old, slow, struggling Jets team that really needs the Olympic break.&nbsp;Amazingly, the Jets outshot Montreal 13-9 in the second period (26-20 after 40 minutes), but their inability to finish was problematic.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/the-habs-celebrate-another-goal.jpg">The Habs celebrate another goal (Photo by Danny Truong)In the third period, the Jets came out quickly and were all over the Canadiens, but again, their inability to finish was the curse they could not overcome.&nbsp;Eventually, at 10:57 on their 22nd shot of the game, Brendan Gallagher scored to make it 4-1 and that was all she wrote. Despite some pressure from the Jets late in the third (Winnipeg pulled Hellebuyck with 5:20 left to play), the Habs coasted to their 32nd win of the season, as Phillip Danault scored an empty-netter with 13 seconds remaining.&nbsp;The Jets outshot Montreal 37-27 and had at least a dozen solid scoring chances, but they either have no luck around the net, or they simply don’t have the skill to finish.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/kapanen-scores-and-the-habs-fans-in-winnipeg-love-it.jpg">Kapanen celebrates the Habs first goal (Photo by Danny Truong)As a result, the Jets head into the Olympic break near the bottom of the league. They also head into the break coming off an ugly loss.&nbsp;A long season is getting longer.&nbsp;

Canadiens Come to Town and Whip the Jets 5-1 Before Olympic Break

<h2>JETS WHIPPED BY DETROIT</h2>If the 2025-26 NHL season wasn’t over for the Winnipeg Jets before Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, it was pretty much over by the end.&nbsp;The Red Wings flew into Winnipeg on Saturday and beat the Jets in every possible manner, beating the home side 5-1 with three unanswered third-period goals.&nbsp;John Gibson was solid in the Red Wings net, J.T. Compher scored twice for Detroit and the rest of the Wings simply skated the Jets into the ice as Detroit improved to 32-16-5 and moved past Tampa into first place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.&nbsp;The Jets, meanwhile, fell to 20-24-7 and are now eight points out of the final playoff spot in the West with four teams in their way.&nbsp;Saturday night’s game started out with some zip, but by the midway point in the second period, the Wings had taken control.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/gibson-save.jpg">Detroit's John Gibson with the save (Photo by James Carey Lauder)After a scoreless first period in which Detroit outshot Winnipeg 11-9, the Jets finally got on the board at 10:08 of the second just as Winnipeg’s Cole Koepke was hit from behind in front of the Detroit net.&nbsp;As Koepke was sprawling on the ice, Logan Stanley’s shot from the point deflected right in front of the Jets’ forward and from his stomach, Koepke swept the puck past Wings netminder John Gibson. In a very unlikely manner, Winnipeg suddenly had a 1-0 lead. It was Koepke’s fourth of the year as Stanley and Morgan Barron drew the assists.&nbsp;Detroit tied the game at 15:50 of the second frame on a goal by J.T.Compher as Stanley and Luke Schenn allowed Compher to have his way in front of Hellebuyck.&nbsp;It was 1-1 when the teams went to their respective dressing rooms. Detroit outshot Winnipeg 12-10 in the second (23-19 after 40 minutes).&nbsp;Detroit put the hammer down early in the third when Compher converted a perfect three-way passing play that thoroughly mesmerized the Jets defensive pairing of Stanley and Schenn. Schenn is obviously two steps too slow against this Detroit team and Compher’s finish was textbook. Detroit led 2-1 at 1:43 of the third and the Jets were reeling.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/comphers-second.jpg">Compher scores for Detroit (Photo by James Carey Lauder)&nbsp;The Wings made it 3-1 at 8:11 when Lucas Raymond scored a flukey goal when he dislodged the puck from the top of the net and slid it past Hellebuyck. It was Raymond’s 18thof the season and for a Jets team that just can’t score, this one was over.&nbsp;The Wings emptied the building at 18:11 when Alex DeBrincat scored an empty netter to make it 4-1. Just 32 seconds later, the Wings made it 5-1 on a goal by Marco Kasper.In all, the Jets were horrible – outshot 31-26, they won only 45 per cent of the faceoffs. The fans who stayed until the end booed heartily. It was kind of sad actually.&nbsp;The Jets will now go out on the road for four games – in New Jersey on Tuesday, in Tampa on Thursday, in South Florida on Saturday and in Dallas on Monday, Feb. 2. The Jets final home game before the Olympic break will faceoff at 6 p.m. CST on Wednesday, Feb. 4, when the red-hot Montreal Canadiens invade Canada Life Centre.&nbsp;

Jets Fade in the Third, Get Whipped 5-1 by Visiting Wings

<h2>Jets fall 2-1 to panthers in shootout struggle</h2>The Winnipeg Jets have not won in overtime or a shootout since October.On Thursday night, the Jets fell to Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers by way of a 2-1 final from Canada Life Centre.The game wasn't fun, fast or filthy. It was just another slow-moving casualty of a jam-packed month of January hockey in advance of the upcoming February Winter Olympic break.Neither team really seemed all that interested in scoring on the night. Goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck and Daniil Tarasov did their respective parts, shutting down most of what they faced.Ultimately, a late-period goal in the middle stanza from Sam Bennett gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead heading into the third.But it took just five minutes for Jonathan Toews to setup Cole Perfetti for the game-tying goal on a nifty strip play, leading to Perfetti's fourth of the season. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, that was all the offence the team could seem to muster up. Regulation ended with the two clubs deadlocked at ones, but overtime did not solve anything. Josh Morrissey nearly ended the game, but hit the gaol post on a chance with less than a minute remaining. The Panthers were near surgical in the shootout, with both Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett beating Hellebuyck, while both Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor were unable to score for Winnipeg as the Jets dropped to 20-23-7 on the season.HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2014525760015642829">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2014525760015642829</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2014536385798259188">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2014536385798259188</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Florida is courtesy of Danny Truong:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4643.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4734.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a5469.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a5264.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a5131.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4888.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a5680.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a5920.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a6087.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a6078.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a6451.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a6751.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a6980.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a7131.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a7203.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a7241.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Scott Arniel on lack of overtime success:“Whatever. I’m not sure. I don’t know what the answer is, but at the end of the day, especially with where we are in the standings, we think we have to end that game right there and sometimes, we get on the wrong side of people and give up opportunities. But tonight, man, we had some opportunities, we had some really good looks there. Obviously, Josh (Morrissey) off the crossbar and a couple of others. When you’re out there, (it’s about) recognizing who you are out against, that type of thing. Different personnel as well.”Cole Perfetti on the game:“Yeah, I thought we played a better third period. Took it to them a little more. They play a hard style of play against with the high flips and the swarming. It's not easy to play against and it's not necessarily the most entertaining game. And I think they want to lull you to sleep. And I thought the first two periods we kind of got caught in that little trap game kind of thing. And then in the third, I thought we took it to them a little more. Got pucks behind the D and were able to establish a little bit more pressure. It was a better third.”WHAT’S NEXT:The Jets close out their crazy stretch of home games with a Saturday evening tilt against the Detroit Red Wings.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 1 Florida Panthers 2 - Shootout

<h2>Jets hold on to beat blues 3-1</h2>The Winnipeg Jets have found a way back into the win column.The 31st-ranked Jets took down the 30th-ranked St. Louis Blues from Canada Life Centre on Tuesday, in a battle for that elusive 30th-place across the league.Working for the second-straight night, the Jets were coming off a 2-0 shutout loss in Chicago and operating on minimal sleep for another Central Division clash.Eric Comrie started in goal for Winnipeg and played lights out, turning aside 23 of the 24 shots he faced. Winnipeg product Joel Hofer tended the goal opposite him but did not get the win.The Jets received two goals and an assist from Mark Scheifele, one goal and two assists from Josh Morrissey and two helpers from Kyle Connor, who all contributed in the top-line heavy offensive production.Three of the game's four goals came on the power play, with all three actually coming on extended four-minute, double minors. Jordan Kyrou potted the lone goal for St. Louis. Next up for Winnipeg is the second test of a three-game homestand, as the Florida Panthers roll into town on Thursday evening. Detroit will come to Winnipeg for a Saturday night showdown before the Jets take off on a four game heater down south. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013756892351471751">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013756892351471751</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013780927869263977">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013780927869263977</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013786510831853973">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013786510831853973</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013786956946391421?s=20">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2013786956946391421?s=20</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. St. Louis is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4993p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9177p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8756p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8704p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9780p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9549p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9107p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6924p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6628p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0684p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0980p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2406p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2513p.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Mark Scheifele on the importance of Tuesday's win:“It was huge. Coms played fantastic; he made a lot of big saves when we needed him to. Just to get the win is huge for our group. We just need to keep it rolling.”Jim Montgomery on Eric Comrie:“I think we had opportunities. We continue to get the good opportunities we had – we were off-target a little too much with our opportunities and Comrie made some big saves.” WHAT’S NEXT:Next up is another home game on Thursday against Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers, before the red-hot Detroit Red Wings roll into town on Saturday. Winnipeg will then hit the road for four-straight.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 St. Louis Blues 1

<h2>Jets fall to rival leafs in overtime</h2>The Winnipeg Jets are back in the 'L' column. After winning four-straight games, the Jets dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday evening's Hockey Day in Canada. Squandering 2-0 and 3-1 leads, the Jets collapsed for the second time in 17 days to fall in extra time, after allowing the game-tying goal with less than five minutes to play.The Jets got goals from Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo and Nino Niederreiter - who scored his first in 22 games - while Toronto responded with tallies from Auston Matthews, Bobby McMann, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the game winner from Max Domi.Matthews set up Domi on a two-on-one rush in overtime, to which Domi fired the puck past Connor Hellebuyck for his sixth of the season, helping the Leafs to their 24th win of the year. For Winnipeg, it was the sixth overtime/shootout loss of the year. Winnipeg's record is now 19-22-6 on the season, but the team has earned nine of a possible 10 points in its last five games. Next up is a one-game road trip to Chicago, where Jonathan Toews will suit up at the United Center as an opponent for the very first time of his career. That game will get underway on TSN at 7:30 PM central. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012681370779234605">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012681370779234605</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012686687147888839">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012686687147888839</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012692777939996907">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012692777939996907</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012696242049151276">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012696242049151276</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012698878819123550">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012698878819123550</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012699468668239945">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012699468668239945</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012710611571097665">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012710611571097665</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012723486309900481">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012723486309900481</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012726893024539093">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2012726893024539093</a> PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Toronto is courtesy of Rusty Barton:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/usatsi_28031390.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/usatsi_28031907.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_p3a1546eee.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_p3a1566eee.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_p3a1671eee.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Auston Matthews on getting booed:“I don’t mind it. I mean, they’re not booing for no reason. I don’t know. You just take it as it is and you just have fun with it.”Josh Morrissey on his team's effort going forward:"I mean, I don't think there's any time for frustration right now. Obviously, we're hunting and trying to climb back into things, and we need to get points every night, preferably two. But, you know, with the schedule up until the Olympic break, it's just about trying to find ways to, obviously, get wins, and find ways to get points and keep climbing. It's a tall task, but we believe in the way we've been playing, really since the break. For the most part, it's given us a chance to win most nights, and it’s what we're gonna have to continue to do, but find ways to get that extra point, in this case, with two points."WHAT’S NEXT:Next up is a road test for the Jets, as Jonathan Toews returns home to Chicago for Monday night affair against the Blackhawks. The Jets then motor back to Winnipeg for home games against St. Louis, Florida and Detroit on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, respectively.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 4

<h2>JETS, Islanders combine for seven goals in second period</h2>OK, now it’s official. The Winnipeg Jets are on a winning streak.&nbsp;Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre in front of 14,114, the Jets got goals from five different players – including two defencemen – as they beat the visiting New York Islanders 5-4.&nbsp;It was Winnipeg’s third straight win as the Jets improved to 18-22-5. They’ve pulled to within seven points of the final playoff spot in the West.&nbsp;Tuesday night’s affair was like three different games. The Jets jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The Islanders then scored three goals in less than three minutes to tie the game. And then the Jets won the third “game” 2-1. The fans certainly got their money’s worth. The two teams combined for seven goals in the second period.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/heineman-scores-on-the-penalty-shot.jpg">Emil Heineman scores on a penalty shot (Photo by James Carey Lauder)The Jets opened the scoring at 4:20 of the first period when Kyle Connor lifted the stick of the Islanders Mathew Barzal, stole the puck right in front of the net and stuffed it past New York goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Mark Scheifele, who dished out his 500th career assist, and Alex Iafallo drew the helpers&nbsp;The rest of the period belonged to the goaltenders. The Jets outshot the Islanders 9-7 but both Sorokin and Hellebuyck were solid.&nbsp;In the second period, it appeared as it the Jets had taken control.&nbsp;First, at 5:41, Josh Morrissey fired a wrist shot from 30-feet out that eluded Sorokin on his stick side. Cole Perfetti and Adam Lowry, who were in front of the net making life difficult for Sorokin got the assists.&nbsp;Then at 6:23 on the power play, Jonathan Toews banged home the rebound off Gabriel Vilardi’s shot and the Jets had a 3-0 advantage. Kyle Connor picked up his 32nd assist of the season on Toews sixth goal. Toews has now scored in three consecutive games for the Jets.&nbsp;However, the Islanders didn’t give in. Anthony Duclair scored his eighth of the season at 7:40 and then Emil Heineman was given a penalty shot (pretty chintzy hooking call on Luke Schenn) at 8:58 and made no mistake as New York cut the Jets advantage to 3-2.&nbsp;The Islanders tied it at 10:21 as Kyle MacLean ripped a wrist shot under the bar to record his second goal of the season. In less than three minutes the visitors had erased a 3-0 deficit.&nbsp;But the Jets bounced back. Scheifele did a great job digging the puck out of the Islanders corner and fed it to Dylan DeMelo who blasted a shot into the corner of the Islanders’ net with Nino Neiderreiter in perfect position in front of Sorokin. The Islanders challenged, but there was clearly no interference on the netminder, and the Jets had a 4-3 lead at 12:23.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/demelo-scores.jpg">DeMelo scores as Niederreiter screens Sorokin (Photo by James Carey Lauder)&nbsp;Then, at 19:40, the Jets finished the period with a bit of a flukey goal. Neal Pionk wristed a floater from the point that hit Adam Lowry in front and eluded a startled Sorokin. It was Lowry’s fourth of the year and Winnipeg suddenly took a 5-3 advantage into the second intermission.&nbsp;The Jets outshot the Islanders 11-8 in the second (20-15 after 40 minutes) but amazingly, had lost 58.3 per cent of the faceoffs.&nbsp;The Jets played shutdown for much of the third period, but with their net empty and just 45 seconds remaining New York’s Anders Lee fired one under the bar, just over Hellebuyck’s shoulder, and suddenly it was 5-4.&nbsp;But the Jets hung on down the stretch and won their third straight game.&nbsp;The Islanders outshot Winnipeg 12-2 in the third period and 27-22 overall. The Islanders won 55.6 per cent of the faceoffs while Winnipeg outhit New York 18-13.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ryan-pulock-from-grandview-checks-jets-captain-adam-lowry.jpg">Isles D-man Ryan Pulock from Grandview checks Jets captain Adam Lowry (Photo by James Carey Lauder)&nbsp;The three stars were 1. Adam Lowry, 2. Dylan DeMelo and 3. Emil Heineman. Someone didn’t notice that Jonathan Toews had his best game as a member of the Jets.&nbsp;The Jets completed their three-game homestand with a record of 3-1-1 and will head out onto the road and play one game in St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday night before returning to Winnipeg to meet the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre. Game time is 6 p.m.

Jets Beat Islanders 5-4 for third straight win

<h2>MORRISSEY, VILARDI OUTSTANDING AS JETS WIN 2ND IN THREE DAYS</h2>It isn’t a winning streak yet, but it’s getting close.&nbsp;Despite being behind for much of the game and despite being outshot 27-22, the Jets got a rare third-period goal from Tanner Pearson and then hung on to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0974.jpg">&nbsp;With 14,165 in attendance at Canada Life Centre, the struggling Jets won their second straight game and improved to 17-22-5 on the season. They have a million miles to go in order to get back into any playoff conversations, but they appear to have put that horrible 11-game (0-7-4) losing streak behind them.&nbsp;On Sunday afternoon, the Jets also got some secondary scoring. While Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor were held off the board, Alex Iafallo, Jonathan Toews, Gabriel Vilardi (now playing alongside Cole Perfetti and Adam Lowry) and Tanner Pearson scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck got the win and improved to 10-12-4 on the season.&nbsp;The first period started out like a Sunday afternoon free skate at the St. Malo Arena. Finally, at 18:50, the Jets scored an accidental goal as a bouncing puck deflected off New Jersey defenceman Simon Nemec and past a startled Jake Allen. Alex Iafallo got credit for his eighth of the season as Nino Niederreiter and Dylan Samberg got the assists.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1142.jpg">However, 37 seconds later Devils’ captain Nico Hischier was left alone in the Jets’ crease and he banged a rebound past Connor Hellebuyck to tie in at one.&nbsp;Both teams scored a late goal, and both teams had eight shots as they went off to the first intermission.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1253.jpg">&nbsp;The second period was the most productive 20-minute span Winnipeg’s own Cody Glass has ever had.&nbsp;Glass gave the Devils a 2-1 lead at 1:05 of the period and then, after Jonathan Toews scored his fifth of the season (unassisted) at 2:36. Glass scored again at 8:08. They were his eighth and ninth goals of the season as the Devils led 3-2,&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1419.jpg">But at 17:57, Cole Perfetti made a couple of moves at the Devils’ net and tried to flip the puck over Allen’s glove on the short side. The puck hit Allen and then the post and bounced behind the goalie where Gabriel Vilardi banged it across the line. It was Vilardi’s 18th of the season from Perfetti and Josh Morrissey (28th assist of the season) as the Jets were able to go to the dressing room tied 3-3 with the Devils after 40 minutes.&nbsp;The Devils outshot the Jets 13-6 in the second period (21-14 after two periods) as the visitors dominated the game.&nbsp;The Jets took a 4-3 lead at 6:17 of the third period when Josh Morrissey set up Tanner Pearson in the Devils crease and Pearson made no mistake, banging the puck between Allen’s legs. It was Pearson’s sixth of the season from Morrissey and Cole Koepke.&nbsp;It also held up as the winner. Despite a couple of close calls in the final 30 seconds of regulation time when the Devils were attacking with the net empty, the Jets were able to hang on and win their second straight game. The Jets outshot New Jersey 9-6 in the third period.&nbsp;The three stars were selected by a someone who didn’t see the game. 1. Perfetti, 2. Morrissey and 3. New Jersy’s Luke Hughes. The two best players on the ice – by a mile – were Cody Glass of the Devils and Gabriel Vilardi of the Jets.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a2526.jpg">The Jets play again on Tuesday, Jan. 13, as the New York Islanders come to town for a 7 p.m. start. It’s the final game of a five-game homestand (2-1-1).

Jets Win Second Straight with 4-3 win over Visiting Devils

<h2>Jets score five times in lopsided win over los angeles</h2>The Winnipeg Jets have finally won a game. It took 27 days and 12 games trying, but they got the job done.After one of the most disappointing streaks in franchise history, Winnipeg bounced back with a lopsided 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.They led wire-to-wire and saw numerous players snap ugly droughts.Vlad Namestnikov scored his first goal in 30 games.Jonathan Toews got his first in 27, while Nino Niederreiter picked up his first point in 18 contests.Eric Comrie took the crease for Winnipeg and picked up the team's 16th win and 37th point of the season, which wasn't enough to move them out of 32nd place in the league, but it's a step in the right direction for a team that has hardly moved in the past four weeks.Mark Scheifele got two goals on the night, while Cole Koepke picked up Winnipeg's other tally.Those gathered at Canada Life Centre raised the roof with cheers for new fan favourite Logan Stanley and sang along jubilantly as victory tunes rained down all throughout the third period.Winnipeg will now get a night off before returning to action on Sunday afternoon for the fourth test of the five-game homestand as the New Jersey Devils roll into town for a 1:00 PM central matinee.HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009785142265692439">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009785142265692439</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009795035152429251">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009795035152429251</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009802894015656385">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009802894015656385</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009804485577814026">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009804485577814026</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009809196787876154">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009809196787876154</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009816045213929800">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009816045213929800</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009826652206010806">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009826652206010806</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009836634448244932">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009836634448244932</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009838727518933345">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009838727518933345</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Friday's game vs. Los Angeles is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8871go.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Scott Arniel on the crowd gathered at Canada Life Centre:"Obviously, there is a lot of relief for everyone. I have to give a shout out to the crowd. That was fun, they were loud and they were enjoying themselves. But, at the end of the day we needed that, as you know we needed it badly. I just like the way, on a back-to-back game, such an emotional one last night, and to come back today was great."Eric Comrie on the fans:“I think they deserved it more than we deserved it. We’ve been putting them through some tough times and they’ve been sticking with us. It’s unbelievable to see their support tonight. There’s not a lot of fan bases that would do that. A lot of fan bases would turn on their team after what we’ve gone through lately, but they’ve stayed right with us the whole time. It’s been special to see that. They are the best fans in the NHL for a reason.WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg stays put at home with the fourth test of the five-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against a struggling New Jersey Devils team. The New York Islanders then show up on Tuesday for the final game.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 5 Los Angeles Kings 1

<h2>Jets drop a stinker to edmonton, fall 4-3 at home</h2>The Winnipeg Jets have done it again.After pulling ahead 3-1 in the early stages, the league's 32nd place club found another way to lose.This time it was the team's 11th-straight loss and 22nd on the season.Falling 4-3 to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday evening, the Jets gave up a late second period goal to the best player in the game, before allowing two more Oilers strikes in the third period, ultimately dropping the contest by one goal.Kyle Connor opened the scoring for Winnipeg on a nifty setup play from Mark Scheifele. Then it was Tanner Pearson who got Winnipeg's second of the game, before Josh Morrissey scored a fluky bouncer that found it's way past Winnipegger Calvin Pickard.But it was all Oilers from that point onward.A big fight between Logan Stanley and Trent Frederic seemed to be the change in momentum that Edmonton needed, as McDavid scored on a nasty breakaway tally with 20 seconds left in the second period, cutting the deficit to just one goal.Zach Hyman potted the game-tying goal high, short-side past Connor Hellebuyck, who made 26 saves on the night.Evan Bouchard got the winner on the power play with 9:23 to play, sealing the deal on Winnipeg's 11th-straight loss. The Jets managed just five shots on goal in the game's final 40 minutes.Next up is the second half of the back-to-back with Los Angeles at 7:00 PM central time on Friday. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009440450298696079">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009440450298696079</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009442461861757171">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009442461861757171</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009447895037255801">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009447895037255801</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009451407246770614">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009451407246770614</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009454197113327728">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009454197113327728</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009464088880140670">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009464088880140670</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009465787921387606">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2009465787921387606</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Edmonton is courtesy of Danny Truong:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a8990.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a8914.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9164.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9127.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9362.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9426.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9559.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9647.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9653.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9749.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9817.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9882.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9997.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9970.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0134.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Neal Pionk on what went wrong this time:"Yeah, we just sat on our heels. And at this point, I think it's mental so we got to overcome that tomorrow."Tanner Pearson on playing against Connor McDavid:“Obviously, he’s one of those guys who you pay close attention to when he plays. There’s a few guys like that in the league. It’s Connor, but I think we did a good job for the most part. Obviously the one at the second hurts, but yeah, it sucks.”WHAT’S NEXT:The five-game homestand continues for Winnipeg, with the second half of a back-to-back on Friday night. The Los Angeles Kings will play Winnipeg at 7:00 PM central, before the New Jersey Devils (Sunday) and the New York Islanders (Tuesday) roll in to complete a busy stretch of five games in eight days for the Jets.

Craig's Corner: Play-In Prediction Time!

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