Despite Clay Stevenson’s best efforts, the Winnipeg Jets could not upset the defending Stanley Cup champions.
On Saturday afternoon in front of 14,415 paying customers at Canada Life Centre, former Jets star Nikolai Ehlers scored the winning goal nearly seven minutes into the third period as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes beat the Jets 3-2.
Stevenson played brilliantly in the Jets net, stopping 33-of-the-36 shots he faced, but despite holding a 2-1 lead late in the second period, the Jets had no answer for the Hurricanes power play that scored on both of its chances.
Mark Scheifele and Akex Iafallo scored for the Jets who fell to 4-2-2 with the loss.
The first period was scoreless, but it was a dandy. Up and down, solid goaltending, some terrific plays. The Jets outshot the defending Cup champs 10-7, and probably should have had the lead, but Pyotr Kochetkov was too good.
The Jets got on the board first in the second period, when Mark Scheifele stole the puck from Nikolai Ehlers in the Carolina zone and walked in alone on Kochetkov and beat the Carolina goaler with a backhand high to the stick side. Scheifele’s second of the year, at 4:53, was unassisted.
Carolina tied it on the power play at 8:19 when Mark Jankowski had a deflection in front of the Jets net land on his stick and he ripped a shot high over Stevenson’s gloved hand. It was Jankowski’s sixth goal in six games.
Then the Jets got a fluke. Kochetkov mishandled the puck to the left his net, Adam Lowry corralled it and stuffed it in front where Alex Iafallo simply had to tap it into the open net. It was Iafallo’s third of the Year while Lowry picked up his third assist.
The Hurricanes tied it at 16:50 of the period when Jesperi Kotkaniemi tipped a shot from the point by Shane Gostisbehere. At this point, the ’Canes were outshooting Winnipeg 17-4 in the second period and 24-14 overall.
To their credit, and to the credit of Stevenson, it was 2-2 after 40 minutes and the Jets certainly had some opportunities to score (with two minutes to play in the period, Scheifele was sent in alone by Perfetti and shot wide).
At 6:43 of the third period, Ehlers made up for his second period gaffe with a power play goal. It was a slapper from 20 feet in front and Stevenson had no chance. It was Ehlers’ first of the season and turned out to be the winner.
Despite a Jets push in the final two minutes, the crowd excited before the final buzzer as Winnipeg lost its second straight game (the Jets suffered a 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago on Thursday night). Carolina outshot Winnipeg 37-24.
Unless they find some scoring in a hurry, that encouraging start to the season, may have been nothing but a mirage for the Jets. This team couldn’t score last season and if it weren’t for the No. 1 line, they wouldn’t have much to show this year.
The Jets play again on Tuesday night in St. Louis.
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