It seems all the local hockey talk has been about the return of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League on Oct. 9. However, the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League is also returning.

And it's coming back with a 42-game schedule before the MJHL starts its campaign. This Friday night, Oct. 2, there will be three games on the MMJHL slate to open a brand new season.

The Transcona Railer Express will face the Stonewall Jets at Veterans Memorial Sports Complex in Stonewall at 7:30 p.m. The Charleswood Hawks will meet the 2018-19 MMJHL champion Pembina Valley Twisters at Morris Multiplex in Morris at 8 p.m. And the River East Royal Knights will take on the Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins at Century Arena in Winnipeg at 8:15 p.m.

On Saturday night St. Vital Victorias will journey to Morris to play the Hawks in what could be the best game of the weekend and then on Sunday, St. James will play at Transcona at 2 p.m., the Twins will play the Raiders Junior Hockey Club at Seven Oaks Sportsplex at 2:30 p.m. and River East will meet Charleswood at BellMTS Iceplex at 4 p.m.

The MMJHL has been shut down, like all Hockey Canada-affiliated leagues (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), since March 12, 2020. It was an abrupt and difficult ending for the defending champion Pembina Valley Twisters and their biggest challengers, the St. Vital Victorias, who both believed they had the horses to win it all last year. It's rather fitting that they will play the featured game on Saturday night during the opening weekend.

The league schedule is available at www.mmjhl.ca.

MMJHL Opens 2020-21 Season on Friday Night

<h2>Scheifele, bedard, Geekie, even stamkos, would have produced moRe offence</h2>The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.&nbsp;That’s a fact. It can’t be changed.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.”&nbsp;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.”&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Hockey Canada must really hate Mark Scheifele.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Canada lost the Olympic gold medal because we didn’t send our best players at the moment.&nbsp;In 2030, if this country wants to win gold, it needs a better brain trust.&nbsp;

Canada Didn't Send Its Best to the Olympics

<h2>Jets earn another win, beating vancouver 3-2 in Overtime</h2>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:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030437085094846556">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030437085094846556</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030437841516273961">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030437841516273961</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030441024078909845">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030441024078909845</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030453071244124228">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030453071244124228</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030459093258047949">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030459093258047949</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030471730989257032">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030471730989257032</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030476061952098553">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2030476061952098553</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Vancouver is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4657p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4412p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6272p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5817p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5420p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a7355p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a7276p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6514p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a7613p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8512p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8701p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9309p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9565p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9706p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9948p.jpg">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.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Vancouver Canucks 2

<h2>Jets find another win, beat tampa 4-1</h2>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:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029716056756080940">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029716056756080940</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029726393400172956">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029726393400172956</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029747766201905441">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029747766201905441</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029751751557960049">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029751751557960049</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029754509430300832">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029754509430300832</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029757554511753229">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029757554511753229</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029773574647747004">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029773574647747004</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029771218971181213">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029771218971181213</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Tampa Bay is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4345p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4215p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4177p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6326p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6990p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5458p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a7662p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4890p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9602p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9543p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9898p.jpg">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.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 4 Tampa Bay Lightning 1

<h2>Jets come back to beat blackhawks 3-2</h2>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:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029005472452301249">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029005472452301249</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029007404512195056">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029007404512195056</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029007541532053613">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029007541532053613</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029020950394761292">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029020950394761292</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029039881302028565">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2029039881302028565</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Tuesday's game vs. Chicago is courtesy of James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3038p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2677p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3471p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1408p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1557p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3239p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3254p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2400p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3471p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5074p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4793p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1287p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5445p.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6101p.jpg">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.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Chicago Blackhawks 2

<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.

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