overtime blunder, poor officiating sees Jets fall 3-2 in Overtime
RECAP:
This one is going to sting for a little while.
Not only did Winnipeg fall to rival Vegas in a game it led at two separate points, it did so in dramatic fashion.
After owning a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game - thanks to Nikita Chibrikov's second goal in two games since his recall from the Manitoba Moose - the Jets gave up a goal to local kid Keegan Kolesar midway through the third period, tying the game at ones.
But defenceman Josh Morrissey restored that lead a few minutes later on a bullet of a slapshot from the point.
However, after staying away from calling minors all game, the referees handed the Jets back-to-back tripping minors, 13 seconds apart.
Vegas capitalized on a Victor Olofsson strike, before the Swedish forward nearly found another on the second half of the power play.
Winnipeg escaped the period with the 2-2 tie, but was unable to find any success in overtime. Despite an onslaught of chances in the first 3.5 minutes, the Jets got sloppy, and gave up the game-winner on a bad line change. A tough breakout pass from Haydn Fleury was intercepted by the Knights, who paraded to the goal and ended things off the stick of Ivan Barbashev.
The Jets will look to rebound with the final test of the homestand on Saturday night against the visiting Montreal Canadiens.
HIGHLIGHTS:
PHOTOS:
The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Vegas is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:
QUOTEABLE:
Scott Arniel on the officiating:
"Yeah, pretty much. I mean, Gabe's was a penalty. 200 feet from our net, that was a penalty. Not talking about the other one. I think just... They have their power play with two minutes to go. Anyways, the first one was a penalty."
Dylan DeMelo on Nikita Chibrikov:
"He's obviously a smaller guy but he's stocky. He's strong on his skates. He's willing to go in those dirty areas, he took a few licks tonight but he's a guy that gets first on the puck and (can) get it out to make a play. He's fearless out there, he's got a good knack for the net and he's been rewarded for going to the net and getting a couple goals."
WHAT’S NEXT:
Winnipeg will now host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night as they conclude their four-game homestand, before travelling out west for a quick two-game road trip through California next week.
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