The Winnipeg Jets have now hit the ice twice in 2023 and are currently preparing for their first game of the calendar year - a home test against a visiting Calgary Flames team at 7:00 PM central time on Tuesday evening.

A welcomed sight for the Jets was the fact that a number of injured players skated with the group on Monday, before the optional team skate on Tuesday morning.

Making an appearance for Winnipeg on Monday morning were forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Cole Perfetti, Blake Wheeler and Saku Maenalanen, while defenceman Nate Schmidt also practiced with the team. Schmidt wore a standard white defensive sweater, while Ehlers and Perfetti wore light blue, as if to indicate they were operating at full power, but skating as the extra forwards. Wheeler and Maenalanen wore non-contact red sweaters, and participated partially in the team aspects of the group skate.

“It feels like I’ve been gone forever but it’s only been two weeks,” Schmidt said, following the skate. “It’s fun to be back out and just yukking it up with the fellas, not just going out for the red dragon skate. It’s nice to have the guys back together.”

Although coach Bowness said none of the players who returned to practice would skate in the team's game on Tuesday, they are all extremely close to being ready to go.

“Feels good to be out there with the guys,” Ehlers said. “Feels good to be a little closer to the guys and a little bit more on the same page as them. It’s nice. It feels good.”

Shortly after practice, it was noted that fellow forward Jansen Harkins had been placed on Waivers. On Tuesday, he passed through, unclaimed, meaning he could now be sent to the Manitoba Moose as a way of making room for an injury list returnee.

No matter who makes up the lineup for Winnipeg, the team will look to play in a similar manner to that of its performance in its 2-1 New Year's Eve victory in Edmonton just a couple nights ago.

"We have to be ready to play no matter who is in the lineup," defenceman Neal Pionk said on Tuesday morning. "Every team has injuries, every team has something that they are going through. We got to find a way through it."

Injured Jets Return to Practice, Harkins Goes Unclaimed on Waivers

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draft test

<h2>DUBINSKY, VIGFUSSON LEAD THE WAY</h2>The 2025-26 hockey season won’t soon be forgotten in Niverville.Not after an eight-month journey turned a four-year-old Manitoba franchise into the kings of Canadian Junior A hockey.And not after a post-season run that bordered on perfection.And certainly not after the Niverville Nighthawks walked into a sold-out building in Summerside, PEI, stared down the hometown favourites on the biggest stage in the country, and skated away as Centennial Cup national champions.&nbsp;For a franchise that only entered the Manitoba Junior Hockey League four years ago, the accomplishment feels almost surreal. Yet by the time the final horn sounded on a 4-1 victory over the Summerside Western Capitals, there was little debate left about who deserved the crown.The Nighthawks weren’t simply champions. They were dominant.From October to May, Niverville built one of the most impressive seasons the MJHL has ever seen. The Nighthawks posted a staggering 51-6-1 regular-season record, rolled through the playoffs at 12-1 and then completed an undefeated run at the Centennial Cup tournament.&nbsp;That combination of skill, maturity and belief transformed a once-expansion franchise into the best Junior A team in Canada.“You don’t hear of too many teams as dominant as us in a while,” forward Marlen Edwards told reporters after the club captured the Turnbull Cup. “We all had the mindset that we’re going to win every single game that we can.”&nbsp;Turns out, they almost did.The championship game itself perfectly reflected the identity the Nighthawks forged all season long — poised, disciplined and relentless.In front of a hostile crowd at Credit Union Place, there were no signs of panic from the visitors. Hayden Wheddon opened the scoring in the first period, wiring home a shot after walking into space, with captain Adam Vigfusson and Merik Boles collecting assists.&nbsp;Summerside briefly tied the contest while shorthanded, but the Nighthawks never wavered.Goaltender Austin Dubinsky slammed the door shut.The CJHL’s Top Goaltender delivered the best performance of his remarkable season in the biggest game of his career, turning aside 34 shots while weathering heavy early pressure from the hometown Capitals.&nbsp;Wheddon struck again in the second period, scoring what would become the game-winning goal, before Edwards buried another dagger in the third. Tyler Bernier added the empty-netter that finally unleashed the celebration.&nbsp;Then came the image every hockey player dreams about. The horn sounded. Players stormed off the bench.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/6a0b0a148acc1.image.png.webp">Dubinsky disappeared beneath a mob of jubilant teammates as the Nighthawks celebrated the first national championship in franchise history.&nbsp;What makes the story even more remarkable is how quickly everything has come together in Niverville.Head coach Dwight Hirst was part of the ownership group that helped bring the franchise to town. Midway through the organization’s second season, he stepped behind the bench after a coaching change and helped alter the direction of the team.&nbsp;Now he stands behind the bench of a national champion.“We got into the playoffs and the franchise turned around right there,” Hirst told Game On Magazine’s Jim Bender.&nbsp;The remarkable thing about the Nighthawks was that there never appeared to be a weak link in the lineup.They had elite scoring, led by Wheddon, Vigfusson, Johnny Scott, Edwards and Bernier. They had a rugged and dependable blue line anchored by Aaron Krestanovich, Parker Carrier and Jase Konecsni. And behind it all stood Dubinsky, whose playoff numbers were video-game ridiculous — a 1.31 goals-against average, three shutouts and a .956 save percentage.&nbsp;Still, the defining characteristic may have been something less tangible: The complete buy-in.“The keys to our victory is just our total team buy-in,” Hirst told Bender. “These guys are probably the most unselfish kids I’ve coached in hockey in years.”&nbsp;That culture was evident everywhere. Veterans embraced roles. Newcomers fit in seamlessly.Players who had won championships elsewhere, including Edwards, Bernier and Krestanovich with the Northern Manitoba Blizzard last season, brought valuable experience into the dressing room.&nbsp;Interestingly, Bernier, Edwards and D-man Luke Wagner were all champions with Team Manitoba at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, as well.And at the centre of it all stood captain Adam Vigfusson, the emotional heartbeat of the franchise from Day 1.Before the championship game, Vigfusson was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after impacting virtually every game at the Centennial Cup.&nbsp;For a player who has been with the organization since its opening season, the ending could not have been scripted any better.“I’m so proud of this team,” Vigfusson told reporters in Summerside. “Everyone knows what we had was special and ultimately, we got the job done.”&nbsp;Special indeed.The Canadian Junior Hockey League season began with 116 teams across nine leagues. When it finally ended, only one remained standing.&nbsp;And somehow, improbably, magnificently, that team came from a Manitoba town better known for quiet streets and community spirit than national hockey champions.At least until now.THE 2025-26 MJHL AND CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONSNIVERVILLE NIGHTHAWKS&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ben Chornomydz&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; G2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beckham Garchinski&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jaden Mah&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jake Demome&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D6. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kole Mears&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tyler Bernier&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thomas Phillips&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D9. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Loik Leduc&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F10.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Evan Panzer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F11.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Marlen Edwards&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F12.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jase Konecsni&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Aaron Krestanowich (A)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D15. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Adam Vigfusson (C)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ryken Arran&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parker Carrier (A)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Parker Rolston&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Calyb Moore&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F20.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; John Scott&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F21.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dawson Zeller (A)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F22.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Luke Wagner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D25. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Max Dowse&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F29.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hayden Wheddon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F33. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Austin Dubinsky&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; G37.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tegan Kurtz&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F55.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Merik Boles&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F&nbsp;General Manager: Mike McAulayHead Coach: Dwight HirstAssistant Coach: Tyler AndersonAssociate Coach: Jeff McGillPhysiotherapist: Justin GiesbrechtStrength &amp; Conditioning Coach: Rob Pambrun&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Niverville Wins Centennial Cup, Beating Host Summerside 4-1 in Final 

<h2>TOEWS NAMED MASTERTON FINALIST WITH DAHLIN AND LANDESKOG</h2>The roar inside&nbsp;Canada Life Centre this season carried a little more meaning—and a lot more heart—every time&nbsp;Jonathan Toews&nbsp;stepped onto the ice.At 38, after years away battling serious health challenges, the local Winnipeg hero didn’t just return to the&nbsp;National Hockey League -- he redefined what perseverance looks like at hockey’s highest level.Now, that remarkable comeback has earned him a place among the three finalists for the 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, alongside&nbsp;Rasmus Dahlin&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Buffalo Sabres and&nbsp;Gabriel Landeskog&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Colorado Avalanche.&nbsp;Awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, the Masterton nomination feels particularly fitting for a player whose journey has been anything but ordinary.Toews’ return wasn’t ceremonial—it was impactful. He played all 82 games for Winnipeg this season, producing 29 points while anchoring the team with his trademark reliability and leadership. His 62.1 percent faceoff success ranked among the league’s best, a reminder that even after years away, his elite skill set remains intact.&nbsp;But the numbers only scratch the surface.This season marked Toews’ full-circle moment: a hometown return after stepping away from the game in 2023 due to Long COVID and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. For a player who once defined excellence with the&nbsp;Chicago Blackhawks—capturing three Stanley Cups and earning honours like the Conn Smythe Trophy and Selke Trophy—this chapter may be his most meaningful yet.&nbsp;Inside the Jets’ room, his influence has been just as profound. Toews has emerged as a mentor, guiding a new generation while reinforcing the culture of professionalism and resilience. Off the ice, his community involvement continues to reflect the same values that have defined his career.The Masterton Trophy itself carries deep historical ties to Winnipeg, named after&nbsp;Bill Masterton, a Winnipeg-born NHL player who embodied dedication to the game before his tragic passing in 1968.&nbsp;For Toews, this nomination isn’t just about recognition—it’s about legacy. Not the one built through championships and accolades, but the one forged through adversity, resilience, and an unwavering love for the game.And in a city that understands hockey as more than just a sport, that story resonates louder than ever.

Toews Named Finalist for Bill Masterton Trophy

<h2>no white out this year </h2>The Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 season is over, and it did not go out with a bang. In fact, it went out with such a whimper, it was barely audible.&nbsp;Thursday night at Canada Life Centre in front of 15,225 paying customers – many of whom left after the second period – the San Jose Sharks blasted the Jets 6-1.&nbsp;With an exclamation point, there will not be a White Out this April.&nbsp;Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks 19-year-old superstar, was the story of the night, scoring a goal and adding two assists to finish the season with 115 points, breaking Joe Thormton’s Sharks record of 114 points set in the 2006-07 season.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Jets finished the 2025-26 campaign with a record of 35-35-12, having lost their final four games by scores of 7-1 to Philadelphia, 6-2 to Vegas, 5-3 to Utah and 6-1 to San Jose. It was a sad way to finish an already disappointing year, but it did secure one thing – a Top 10 selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.&nbsp;Despite scoring first, this was a disappointing evening for the Jets. When patrons start leaving the building early on Fan Appreciation Night, you know it wasn’t the outcome that anyone had planned.&nbsp;The Jets opened the scoring at the 3:28 mark of the first period when Cole Koepke turned on the burners, blew past the entire Sharks team and beat San Jose netminder Alex Nedeljovic with a big shot to the corner. It was Koepke’s eight of the year and was unassisted.&nbsp;However, even though the Jets outplayed the visitors and outshot them 12-7 in the first period, San Jose got goals from Igor Chernyshov (on the power play) at 6:26 and Will Smith at 16:54 as Eric Comrie was out of position on both shots. Celebrini assisted on both goals – his 69th and 70th assists of the season.&nbsp;The Jets had a handful of great chances but either shot wide, shot it over the net or made ill-advised when a shot was more appropriate. The problems that have tarnished the Jets offence all year long were certainly evident in the first period of the final game of the season.&nbsp;San Jose made it 3-1 at 5:51 when Collin Graf was allowed to walk in to the Jets zone unchallenged, cut across the middle (again unchallenged) and rip a wrister past Comrie. The goal came right after the Jets Gabriel Vilardi hit the post and at this stage of the period, San Jose had outshot Winnipeg 8-1. It started to appear as if the Jets were now playing for a higher draft pick. In fact, a loss and the Jets will get the seventh pick in the draft.&nbsp;The nail was put into the coffin for the season when Michael Misa scored for the Sharks at 18:01 of the second frame. There was little doubt the play was offside but the Jets bench didn’t even bother to look at their screens in order to challenge. It was over and everyone knew it.&nbsp;William Eklund scored at 19:55 of the second just to rub a little salt in the Jets wounds. It was absolutely ugly at this stage.&nbsp;At 1:14 of the third period, Celebrini scored for the Sharks to make it 6-1 and, thus, break Thornton’s record. It was his 45th goal of the season and while his team failed to make the playoffs, his personal performance during the 2025-26 campaign was superb.&nbsp;In the end, San Jose outshot Winnipeg 33-26 and outhit the Jets 15-10. Sad to say, but the Jets looked ready to dust off the golf clubs and forget thus season ever happened.&nbsp;Winnipeg needs to make some significant moves this off-season. Hard to imagine we’ll recognize this team next September.

The Jets Finish 35-35-12 After Losing 6-1 to Sharks in Season Finale

<h2>JEts miss playoffs but scheifele reaches 100-point plateau</h2>&nbsp;LAS VEGAS -- The Winnipeg Jets playoff hopes officially died in the desert on Monday night.&nbsp;Most fans had already given up hope, but the Jets weren’t mathematically eliminated until news that the L.A. Kings had beaten the Seattle Kraken 5-3 in Seattle.&nbsp;Then, when the final buzzer sounded at T-Mobile Arena here in Las Vegas, the Jets were on the short end of a 6-2 score as the Vegas Golden Knights started preparing for the playoffs and the Jets got set to finish the season with games in Utah on Tuesday and at home on Thursday.&nbsp;On Monday night, Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele became the first member of Jets 2.0 to garner 100 points in a season when he picked up an assist in the third period and Gabriel Vilardi scored his 30th of the year, just about finished with the best season of his NHL career. But those were two rare bright spots in a very disappointing Jets campaign.&nbsp;Despite his remarkable season, Scheifele was deeply disappointed in missing the playoffs.&nbsp;“Yeah, it sucks,” said Scheifele, who had a goal and an assist on Monday night and now has 101 points and is tied for fifth in NHL scoring. “You know, we were pushing until the end and it's a tough reality.That's just the game of hockey.”&nbsp;The other dressing room was much louder than Winnipeg’s and for good reason. Jack Eichel had a goal and three assists while Mark Stone had a goal and two assists as they led the Golden Knights to a decisive win at home. They looked like a team that was ready for the post-season.&nbsp;Unlike the Jets, who now have to start building for next year.&nbsp;“You know what, it's a terrible feeling,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We said at the Olympic break when we had our chance to have our little mini-camp and kind of get ready for the stretch run, the final 29 games, we wanted to put everything we could into it. We went from 11 points down to one at one time.&nbsp;“It's a tough feeling. I know the guys are hurting. We all want to be in the playoffs, that's what our job is and our role is. When you get the reality of missing the playoffs, it sucks.”&nbsp;There was no scoring in the first period as the Jets played surprisingly well despite being outshot 10-3. Winnipeg simply doesn’t want to shoot the puck until they’ve made that last perfect pass and on Monday, despite some legitimate chances, Winnipeg either passed the puck too often or fired it high and wide.&nbsp;Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 10 shots he faced but wasn’t really tested. The shots he faced were primarily from the perimeter and on almost all of them, he had a clear view.&nbsp;The Jets also killed a couple of Vegas power plays.&nbsp;Vegas opened the scoring shorthanded at 7:38 of the second period when Jack Eichel gathered up the puck at his own blueline and went in on a two-on-one with Mark Stone. Eichel fed a perfect pass to Stone who fired a shot that Hellebuyck seemed to corral, but it rolled off the Jets tender and dribbled across the goal line. It was Stone’s 28th of the season.&nbsp;The Knights made it 2-0 at 18:56 of the second when Reilly Smith tipped a Noah Hanifin shot past Hellebuyck. It was Smith’s 14th of the season.&nbsp;Vegas outshot Winnipeg 16-10 in the second period (26-13 after 40 minutes) and at times, Hellebuyck had to be a magician in the Jets net. Winnipeg, however, went zero-for-four on the power play and gave up a Vegas shorthanded goal so obviously, the power play was an issue.&nbsp;The Jets season effectively ended on Saturday night after that 7-1 loss to Philadelphia, but the exclamation point was put on the disappointing campaign when Ivan Barbashev drilled the puck into a wide-open net at the 31 second mark of the final period. It was Barbashev’s 23rd of the year and it made the score 3-0 Vegas.&nbsp;On the bright side, the Jets made it 3-1 at the 2:34 mark on the power play as Gabriel Vilardi scored his 30th of the year, redirecting a perfect pass from Colin Miller. Mark Scheifele also pick up an assist, his 66th of the season and his 100th point.&nbsp;“I'm very blessed. I've played with some amazing players,” said Scheifele. “I'm a very blessed man. I've just got to thank God for it all. I'm proud of myself and I know there's still more, so that's exciting.&nbsp;I'm very, very lucky to play with all of the players I play with. Josh Morrissey is a guy that does so much for this team that gets unrecognized. One of the best defensemen in the league. KC (Connor) is one of the best players in this league too. That's my boy and I'm very, very lucky to have him on my wing. Gaber (Vilardi), he's just getting better each and every year. Al (Iafallo), who obviously wasn't here. Missed him out there tonight. He sent me a nice text this morning. I'm very, very lucky and very blessed to play with the guys I play with.&nbsp;But any thought of a comeback was short-lived as Rasmus Anderson scored at 3:37 to make it 4-1.&nbsp;The Jets made it 4-2 when Scheifele scored at 4:41, banging home a loose puck to the side of Vegas netminder Carter Hart. It was Scheifele’s 36th of the year and his 101st point. Kyle Connor (52nd) and Gabriel Vilardi (37th) drew the assists.&nbsp;But only a few minutes later, Scheifele high-sticked Anderson and took a four-minute double minor. During the double power play, the Knights got goals from Pavel Dorofeyev and Jack Eichel and that was all she wrote.&nbsp;Carter Hart made 21 saves to get the win while Hellebuyck stopped 32 of the 38 he faced.&nbsp;The Golden Knights are now 6-0-1 since Bruce Cassidy was fired as head coach and John Tortorella took over.&nbsp;The Jets have two games remaining this season. They play in Utah on Tuesday night (8 p.m. CDT) and then come home to finish the season against San Jose at 7 p.m. at Canada Life Centre.

Jets Officially Eliminated from Playoffs, Lose 6-2 to Knights in Vegas

<h2>Jets drop crucial game against philly</h2>The Winnipeg Jets are down to one last breath.Despite a heavy blowout from Philadelphia on Saturday night, the Jets are still, mathematically, in the playoff hunt, but with every point lost the challenge to crack the postseason gets that much harder.Winnipeg didn't do itself any favours on Saturday either. From the get go, it was all Flyers.The Jets fell behind 3-1 after 20 minutes, before giving up another two goals in the second and another two in the third.And this was a must-win game.With Los Angeles and Nashville earlier picking up wins in their respective games, the Jets needed a victory to keep pace in a very narrow race for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.Unfortunately, the Jets did not show up to play on Saturday, and with that, their playoff hopes hold on by just a thread. Winnipeg will need all of Los Angeles, Nashville and San Jose to effectively 'lose out,' while they 'win out' over the remaining schedules in order to even be considered for the postseason.Haydn Fleury had the Jets' lone goal on the night, while Connor Hellebuyck lasted just 40 minutes after allowing five goals on 20 shots. He was relieved by Eric Comrie, who didn't have a save until the 17- minute mark of the final period, allowing two goals on three shots.Winnipeg now hits the road for its final road trip of the season, with stops in Vegas and Utah before returning home for Thursday's season ender against San Jose.HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043097146958938158">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043097146958938158</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043106267900829931">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043106267900829931</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043109362017915351">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043109362017915351</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043110753566401023">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043110753566401023</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043118267506790682">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043118267506790682</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043125048140234962">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043125048140234962</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043126610740850697">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043126610740850697</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043127432304361779">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043127432304361779</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043133336022126974">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043133336022126974</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043139771573362799">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2043139771573362799</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Philadelphia is courtesy of Danny Truong:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0007.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a9720.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0122.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0301.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0346.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a0466.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1384.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1413.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1584.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1711.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a1845.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a2007.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Jets' head coach Scott Arniel on his team knowing about the score of the Kings' game prior to puck drop:"It wasn't announced in our locker room. I am sure, maybe some guys looked and maybe some didn't, but it doesn't matter at the end of the day. We have talked about controlling what we can control, and that is basically trying to win every single night until the end of the year. And that is all we can do as we can't control what other teams are doing. Regardless of what else happened around the league, we were not ready to go and they were, and we could never get back in the game."Adam Lowry on his team's performance:"I don't think it's a tough sell. I think we were 11 points out coming out of the break, and we talked about this internal optimism, this belief in our team that we were better than we played all year and coming out of the break, I feel like we've done a good job of putting together good stretches of hockey playing well against good teams. And that can't change. We need our next three games. Need to be our three best of the year."WHAT’S NEXT:The Jets hit the road for two games in Vegas and Utah before returning home for the final game of the season against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night from Canada Life Centre.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 1 Philadelphia Flyers 7

<h2>JETS GET TWO FROM CONNOR EN ROUTE TO ANOTHER MUST WIN</h2>In another game the Winnipeg Jets absolutely had to win, it was Mark Scheifele who led his team to a 6-2 shellacking of the Seattle Kraken.&nbsp;Scheifele had three assists – the second helper was the 900th point of Scheifele’s career – while Kyle Connor scored two goals and Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist as the Jets won their second straight game and improved to 34-31-12, briefly putting them a single point behind Nashville and Los Angeles in the race for the final Wild Card in the Western Conference.&nbsp;Trouble is, late on Monday night, Nashville plays at Los Angeles in a game that will leave one of those teams in sole possession of the final spot, three points ahead of Winnipeg.&nbsp;Monday night, in front of 14,430 at Canada Life Centre, the Jets fell behin early but dominated the final two periods to blow the Kraken out of the building.&nbsp;Seattle opened the scoring at 9:17 of the first period when Jordan Eberle flipped a backhander past Connor Hellebuyck. It was Eberle’s 25th of the season.&nbsp;However, the Jets tied it on the power play at 12:39 when Jonathan Toews knocked down a ricochet off the end boards and tucked the puck past Seattle netminder Philipp Grubauer. It was Toews 10th of the year as Gabriel Vilardi (35th) and Josh Morrissey (40th) – the man who took the shot off the end boards – picked up the assists.&nbsp;It was an odd period. The Jets were solid for the first three or four minutes, then Seattle took over and completely controlled the next eight minutes, then after they scored, the Jets were quite good for the final eight minutes. Seattle outshot Winnipeg 13-7, but had Mark Scheifele not been foiled by Grubauer -- twice -- on a clear-cut breakaway, the score might not have been 1-1.&nbsp;In the second period, the Jets took a 2-1 lead at 9:55 with another power play goal. Gabriel Vilardi grabbed a loose but contested puck in front of Grubauer and ripped it under the bar for his 29th of the season. Toews (17th) and Mark Scheifele (61st) picked up the assists.&nbsp;The Jets made it 3-1 with yet another power play goal at 12:09 when Kyle Connor’s shot deflected off the stick of Seattle D-man Ryan Lindgren and eluded a stunned Grubauer. It was Connor’s 37th of the season as Morrissey (41st) and Scheifele (62nd) picked up the assists. It was Scheifele’s 900th career NHL point – all with the Winnipeg Jets.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a7989.jpg">Scheifele Thanks the Crowd after notching his 900th career point (Photo by Danny Truong)With that goal, Seattle pulled Grubauer and replaced him with Joey Daccord. As well, at this point in the second period, the Jets had outshot Seattle 12-2.&nbsp;After two periods, the Jets were in a good place. They had outshot Seattle 20-17 (13-4 in the second period), outhit them 16-11 and had won 58 per cent of the faceoffs. They also led 3-1 in a game they absolutely, positively had to win.&nbsp;But the Kraken, who had already beaten the Jets twice this season, would not go away. Jared McCann scored at 2:28 with a beautiful wrist shot that Hellebuyck did not see and suddenly it was 3-2.&nbsp;However, the Jets regained their two-goal lead at 5:59 when Brad Lambert streaked down the right wing and wristed one over Daccord’s shoulder for his third of the year. It was a dynamic goal at just the right time. Adam Lowry (16th) and Neal Pionk (ninth) drew the assists as the Jets had some breathing room again.&nbsp;The Jets put the game away at 15:19 when Kyle Connor scored his second of the game. After some exciting, scrambly play around the Seattle net, Connor got the puck loose to Scheifele who put a perfect pass back onto Connor’s stick and he fired a laser inside the post to make it 5-2. It was Connor’s 38th of the season and Scheifele’s 63rd assist.&nbsp;Winnipeg put a cherry on top at 17:56 as Vladislav Namestnikov scored an empty-netter. It was Namestnikov’s eighth of the year and it came on the night he returned from an injury that kept him out of 20 games.&nbsp;The Jets outshot Seattle 12-7 in the third and 32-24 overall. Winnipeg won 57 per cent of the faceoffs and outhit Seattle 27-16. It was superb effort at a time when the Jets need a superb effort every night.&nbsp;Of course, Winnipeg will get no rest. The Jets will travel to St. Louis to take on the Blues on Thursday night in another must-win match-up. Game time is 7 p.m. CST on TSN3.&nbsp;

Scheifele Leads Jets to 6-2 Shellacking of Visiting Seattle

<h2>Jets drop first test of home-and-home against colorado</h2>The Winnipeg Jets fell 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday evening from downtown Winnipeg.After picking up a somewhat lopsided win over the Vegas Golden Knights, the Jets bounced back with a loss against the No. 1 club, setting the stage for a very important Saturday evening showdown with the very same Avalanche team in the second test of the home-and-home.Mark Scheifele got two goals for Winnipeg - his 33rd and 34th of the season, which also set a new career high with 88 points on the year - on the night he surpassed Thomas Steen for most games played in a Jets jersey - 951.Nathan MacKinnon scored the winner - his second of the game and 48th of the season on a play Jets' head coach Scott Arniel thought was goaltender interference. He didn't get his way with the Coach's Challenge, but his team killed the delay of game minor. Winnipeg remains five points out of the final playoff spot and sees its chances dwindling by the hour as other clubs between the Jets and the postseason remain deep in the Western Conference playoff race. Next up is the second half of that home-and-home on Saturday, before the Jets head to Chicago, Dallas and Columbus next week.HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037322201494601732">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037322201494601732</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037324382209708086">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037324382209708086</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037325258018189665">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037325258018189665</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037327141059366961">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037327141059366961</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037355472559419867">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037355472559419867</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037360686196760823">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037360686196760823</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037371011247788135">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/2037371011247788135</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Colorado is courtesy of Danny Truong:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a2587.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a2877.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a2967.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a3082.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a3383.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a3589.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a3925.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4051.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4230.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4262.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4513.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4613.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4640.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_l9a4893.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Cole Perfetti on Mark Scheifele:“I think he's, what, now 32-33 and 951 games in, and I think he's having a career year this year. So it goes to show you his work ethic and his dedication to getting better every day and each year. I think every year he's getting better still, and usually when you get to 33 you kind of start going the other way, and he looks like he's getting better every day and every game. I admire how much he takes care of himself, his body, and his work ethic and practice and doing the little things right. As a young guy that's something that I can learn from. He doesn't get complacent, even though he is having such a great year. He's always looking to get better, and as a young guy I can definitely learn from that.”Mark Scheifele on passing Thomas Steen for most games played as as Jet: "Yeah, it's really cool. Honestly, and if you would have told me that when I started my career, don't know if I'd believe you, but I'm obviously very blessed to get to that point. You know, just have to thank God for keeping me healthy. And just want to keep it going." WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg will now get back on the road for a four-game stretch through Colorado, Chicago, Dallas and Columbus as the Jets continue to cling onto their playoff hopes. Saturday evening will be the second half of the home-and-home with the Avalanche. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM central.

Game On Game Recap: Winnipeg Jets 2 Colorado Avalanche 3

<h2>SCHEIFELE SUPERB AS JETS WIN SECOND STRAIGHT</h2>It’s still an uphill battle but the Winnipeg Jets aren’t dead yet.&nbsp;Tuesday night, thanks to Mark Scheifele’s Gordie Howe hat-trick – a goal, two assists and a fight with Winnipegger Brett Howden – the Jets upset the visiting Vegas Golden Knights 4-1.&nbsp;As 13,478 patrons looked on at Canada Life Centre, the Jets built a 3-0 lead in the second period and then hung on to win their second straight game and improve to 30-29-12 on the season. The Jets now have points in six of their last seven games (4-1-2) and are still five points behind the Nashville Predators in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.&nbsp;With 11 games remaining, the Jets and Seattle have 72 points, Los Angeles has 73 and Nashville, who has won five straight, has 77. The Jets don’t have an easy road ahead, however. They have home-and-home contests against the Colorado Avalanche, the best team in the NHL, starting on Thursday in Winnipeg and also play seven of their final 11 on the road.&nbsp;Tuesday night, the stars were Scheifele, who was superb, along with linemate Kyle Connor, who had a goal and an assist, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck who made 26 saves and won his 18th game of the season.&nbsp;Scheifele, who now has 32 goals and 54 assists and is seventh in scoring in the NHL, is only one point away from his career high of 87. When asked about his Gordie Howe hat-trick, Scheifele laughed: “I think it’s fourth of my career, so it’s nothing new.” Both Scheifele and Connor scored their 32nd goals of the season.&nbsp;Despite the fact the Golden Knights dominated the first period (at the 9:59 mark, Vegas had outshot Winnipeg 9-0), the Jets opened the scoring at 17:25 of the first period on a classic Jets play: Scheifele dug the puck out of the corner and got it back to Josh Morrissey who whipped a pass to Connor who one-timed a shot past Vegas goaltender Adin Hill. It was a goal on Winnipeg’s fifth shot of the game and while the Jets led 1-0 after the first period, they were outshot 13-5.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/perfetti-scores.jpeg">Perfetti scores off the great pass from Vilardi (Photo by Danny Truong)Despite the fact Vegas controlled the play, the Jets piled it on in the second. Alex Iafallo extended Winnipeg’s lead to 2-0 at 2:08 of the second period. After a turnover by Vegas’ wildly overrated defenceman – and marginal Olympian -- Shea Theodore, Scheifele drilled a perfect cross-ice pass into Iafallo’s stick who ripped a wrister under the bar to Hill’s short-side. It was a beauty – Iafallo’s 12th of the year.Cole Perfetti made it to 3-0 at 4:06 as Dylan DeMelo drilled a stretch pass to Gabriel Vilardi who led a three-on-rush into Vegas territory. Vilardi waited then laid a perfect pass onto Perfetti’s stick and all he had to do was tap it into an empty net behind Hill. It was Perfetti’s 10th of the season and Vilardi’s 32nd assist.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/perfetti-at-the-bench.jpg">Perfetti celebrates his goal (Photo by Danny Truong)Colton. Sissons cut the Jets lead to 3-1 on the power play at 10:26, but the Jets took back the momentum and eventually got an empty-netter from Scheifele at 18:42 to send the fans home happy.&nbsp;The three stars were 1. Scheifele, 2. Connor and 3. Hellebuyck. Vegas outshot Winnipeg 27-21 but the Jets won 52 per cent of the faceoffs and outhit the visitors 22-11.&nbsp;Winnipeg is back in action at Canada Life Centre at 7 p.m. (CDT) on Thursday night as the Avalanche come back to town. The Jets go to Colorado for the re-match on Saturday at 6 p.m. (CDT).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scheifele Has Gordie Howe Hat-Trick to Lead Jets Past Vegas 4-1

<h2>Mosienko's mark still stands today</h2>"Lightning in a Beer Bottle." It began as a throwaway line — the kind of locker-room musing that fades as quickly as it’s spoken.On the eve of a meaningless late-season game in 1952, Billy Mosienko, a smallish winger from Winnipeg’s North End, casually remarked that he’d love to do something to get his name into the record book. Less than 24 hours later, he didn’t just make history — he shattered it in a way that still defies belief.On March 23, 1952, inside a half-empty Madison Square Garden, Mosienko caught what he famously called “lightning in a beer bottle.” In a span of just 21 seconds, he scored three goals — a National Hockey League record that, more than seven decades later, still stands untouched.&nbsp;At the time, there was little reason to expect anything remarkable. The Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers were both out of playoff contention in the NHL’s six-team era, playing out the string in front of a modest crowd of just 3,254 fans. The game itself seemed to be decided early in the third period, with the Rangers cruising to a 6-2 lead.But hockey, as it so often does, had other plans.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/bill-mosienko-skating-between-max-and-doug-bentley.jpg">Mosienko in the middle between Doug and Max Bentley - the Pony LineMosienko, temporarily serving as Chicago’s captain, had already built a reputation as a gifted scorer. A product of Winnipeg’s North End, he’d honed his game in local rinks before starring with the Winnipeg Monarchs and eventually joining the Black Hawks in the early 1940s. Alongside Max and Doug Bentley, he was part of the famed “Pony Line,” one of the most dynamic forward units of the era.&nbsp;Still, nothing in his accomplished career hinted at what was about to unfold.The Rangers, for their part, were limping through the finale. With their top goaltenders unavailable, they turned to third-string netminder Lorne Anderson, who had already played a full game earlier that day with the Rangers’ farm team. On defense, Hy Buller — chasing a franchise record — suited up despite a cracked ankle. It was a patchwork lineup in a game that meant little.Until, suddenly, it meant everything.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/bill-mosienko-3.jpg">The Polaroid of the RecordAt 6:09 of the third period, Mosienko struck. Taking a pass from Gus Bodnar, he darted around Buller, cut to the net and slipped the puck under Anderson’s glove to make it 6-3. Eleven seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, Bodnar found him again. Mosienko repeated the move — same route, same finish — and suddenly it was 6-4.The Garden, quiet moments earlier, began to buzz.Then came the third goal — the one that would echo through hockey history. Just 10 seconds after his second, Mosienko took a feed from George Gee, raced into the zone and, reading Anderson’s anticipation of another low shot, flipped the puck high over the glove.Three goals. Twenty-one seconds. Bedlam.The Rangers were stunned. The small crowd roared. And Mosienko, the unassuming winger from Winnipeg, had just authored one of the most astonishing bursts the sport has ever seen.“It was insane,” one observer would later say — and that may be the simplest, most accurate description.Chicago wasn’t done. Energized by the improbable rally, the Black Hawks completed the comeback, scoring twice more in the final minutes to secure a 7-6 victory. What had been a forgettable game became an immortal chapter in NHL lore.&nbsp;For Mosienko, the record was the crowning moment of a stellar 14-year NHL career. Over 711 games, he scored 258 goals and 540 points, earning the Lady Byng Trophy in 1945 and multiple All-Star selections.&nbsp;But even among those accomplishments, the “Mosienko Miracle” stands alone — a feat so rapid, so improbable, that it feels almost mythological.And yet, it happened.There’s something fitting about the circumstances. A meaningless game. A small crowd. A battered opponent. Hockey, after all, has always had a flair for the unexpected. Records aren’t always born under bright lights or playoff pressure — sometimes, they emerge in the quiet corners of the schedule, when no one is watching.Except, of course, those lucky enough to be there.Mosienko would go on to finish his NHL career in 1955 before returning home to Winnipeg, where he continued to leave his mark on the game. He helped lead the Winnipeg Warriors to a Western Hockey League championship and remained a celebrated figure in Manitoba hockey circles.&nbsp;His legacy would later be cemented with induction into multiple halls of fame and the naming of a Winnipeg arena in his honour – the Billy Mosienko Arena is now home to the North Winnipeg Satelites of the capital Region Junior B Hockey League.But no accolade, no statistic, no ceremony quite captures the magic of that March night in New York. Twenty-one seconds. Three goals. One moment that refuses to fade.And on this date 74 years later, the record still stands — not just as a benchmark of scoring, but as a reminder of hockey’s capacity for the extraordinary. In a game where everything can change in an instant, Mosienko proved that sometimes, an instant is all it takes to become immortal.&nbsp;

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