Winnipeg has had a focus on getting younger this off-season, both through trades and buyouts in the case of Blake Wheeler. Flying under the radar through all these roster moves is the core of any rebuilding franchise: the draft picks. The Jets picked Colby Barlow with pick 18 in the 2023 draft, another Ontario Hockey League star in the same vein as Gabriel Valardi. Coming off captaining his OHL team at just 17 years old, Barlow is a goal scorer putting up 46 in 59 games last season. Barlow isn’t the only Jets first-round pick set to debut this season: Rutger McGroarty was picked 14th overall in 2022, but committed to a season at Michigan before joining the NHL squad. McGroarty has a great deal of international experience for a rookie, racking up 18 games between the U18 and World Junior United States teams. The youngster even wore the captain's patch for the US’s 2022 IIHF silver medal run. McGroarty comes with more experience than most 19-year-olds.On most teams, these leadership qualities at such a young age could be overlooked. However on a Winnipeg Jets team sorely lacking in guidance, having these prospects mature ahead of their years could be a huge asset. Recent years have shown building through the draft to be the most effective way to kickstart a franchise, and the Jets are putting themselves in a great position to do just that.

The Young Guys in the Winnipeg Jets' 2023 Draft

<h2>Jets move to 29-12-3 on the year</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets improved to 29-12-3 on the season with a 3-0 shutout over the visiting Colorado Avalanche from Canada Life Centre on Saturday night.Connor Hellebuyck picked up his league-leading sixth shutout and league-leading 26th win of the year, doing so with 22 saves against a red-hot Avalanche team.Entering the game, Colorado was 8-1-1 in its last 10 games, while Winnipeg had dropped four of its last five outings.The win was much needed in Winnipeg, for a team that actually hadn't won many games at its home rink in some time.Nikolaj Ehlers scored the first and last goal of the game, wiring a wrister past Mackenzie Blackwood just 1:08 into the game, giving the Jets a very early lead.Mark Scheifele would then collect his 25th goal of the year in the second period, moving into a tie for second place in goal scoring across the entire NHL. Ehlers finished things off with an empty netter on a sacrificial neutral zone play from captain Adam Lowry. The win moved Winnipeg back into first-place, league-wide. But the Jets will likely be looking to do it all again on Tuesday night with a two-day break between games for the first time in a while. That contest will be against the Vancouver Canucks and will feature a 7:00 PM central start time. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878224719167525197">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878224719167525197</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878236549638139916">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878236549638139916</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878255783646765546">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878255783646765546</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878256088438452525">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1878256088438452525</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Colorado is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01604.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06994.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06987.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07009.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07053.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06940.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07167.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07135.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07182.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc07169.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01912.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Avalanche coach Jared Bednar on Connor Hellebuyck:“Yeah, he's been fantastic all year. And not just this year, for me he’s been one of the top guys in the league for a while. I think that that is earned. It's consistency over time, giving your team a chance to win..."Dylan Samberg on his return to the lineup after a 21-game injury absence.“It actually feels pretty good. I’m just a little tired. I’m ready to take a nice long nap. It was fine. Good to get back out there.” WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg will now take on the Vancouver Canucks in an all-Canadian matchup from Canada Life Centre on Tuesday night in the sixth matchup of the season-high, eight-game homestand.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Colorado Avalanche 0

<h2>Jets Fall to 28-12-3</h2>On the night the Winnipeg Jets celebrated the accomplishments of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, his backup did everything he could to be the hero.&nbsp;Sadly, the Los Angeles Kings’ Adrian Kempe fired a brilliant wrist shot over Eric Comrie’s glove and underneath the cross bar at 1:14 of overtime to give the visitors a 2-1 victory over the hometown Jets.&nbsp;Before the game, the Jets held a ceremony to honour Hellebuyck’s 300th win. Combined with his 40 shutouts he became the second-fastest goaltender in history to reach those milestones (the legendary Jacque Plante was the fastest). He’s also reached 300/40 faster than any American-born goalie in the annals of the National Hockey League.&nbsp;And then, he sat down.&nbsp;It was Comrie’s turn to play on Friday night at Canada Life Centre and the 29-year-old, nine-year NHL veteran who is in his third stint with the Jets played superbly, keeping Winnipeg in a game in which they were out-checked and, for the most part, outskated by the hard-working Kings.&nbsp;However, while they got a third-period tying goal on the power play from Mark Scheifele, the Jets couldn’t score the winning tally in OT despite having two brilliant chances. The Kings’ Darcy Kuemper was just a little bit better than Comrie and that was enough to send L.A. home with their second win in two meetings against the Jets this season.&nbsp;With the OT loss, the Jets fell to 28-12-3 on the season and while they remain in first place in the Central Division, they are now tied with Vegas and Washington for first overall in the NHL with 59 points. The Jets are now 1-2-2 in their last five, 5-3-2 in their last 10 and are 1-1-2 in the first four games of this season-longest, eight-game homestand.&nbsp;“There was tight checking throughout the whole game and not a lot of space for either team,” said the Jets Gabriel Vilardi, who assisted on Scheifele’s tying goal in the third. “We got a little momentum in the third and were able to get that power play foal. In overtime, we got a couple of looks. Sometimes you score, sometimes you don’t.”&nbsp;In the first period, the Kings showed how they’ve been successful all season. They checked the Jets into the ice and appeared to open the scoring at 4:01 and a shot from the point by Jordan Spence. However, the Jets challenged, saying that the Kings were offside when they brought the puck into the Jets’ zone and the challenge was upheld. In the end, the “choppy” first period, as described by Vilardi, remained scoreless as L.A. outshot Winnipeg 6-4.&nbsp;In the second period, Alex Turcotte scored the first goal of the game at 4:39. It gave the Kings a 1-0 lead – a lead that held up until midway through the third period. Kempe started the play by just firing a point shot at the Jets net that Turcotte tipped from inside the right circle past a startled Comrie. The Kings outshot Winnipeg 9-5 in the second period.&nbsp;The Jets played with a little more urgency in the third period although they didn’t get their 10th shot of the game until the two-minute mark of the frame.&nbsp;The Jets tied it at 10:22 when Kyle Connor made a brilliant behind the back pass to Vilardi in the slot and then Vilardi threw a sensational blind pass to Scheifele who had a wide-open net, and he made no mistake.&nbsp;Scheifele extended his points streak to four games with his team-leading 24th goal while Connor notched his team-high 54th point with an assist. Vilardi also had an assist, his career high 19th of the season.&nbsp;Unfortunately for the Jets, despite solid chances by Scheifele and Connor in overtime, Kempe scored the winning goal with a brilliant wrister under the bar.&nbsp;The Jets outshot Los Angeles 8-7 in the third period and 2-1 in overtime, but L.A. had a 23-19 advantage for the game. The Jets won 51 per cent of the faceoffs and went one-for-two on the power play while the Kings were zero-for-three with the man-advantage. The Jets allowed only one power play goal on the opponents’ last 11 chances.&nbsp;There will be no rest for the Jets. On Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Canada Life Centre, they’ll face one of their arch-nemeses, the Colorado Avalanche. When one considers they’ve hardly scored any goals to support Comrie this season, maybe they’ll get the offence going with Hellebuyck back in goal.The full photo gallery from Friday's game is courtesy of James Carey Lauder and Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06303.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06347.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3694go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06679.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3727go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3865go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4101go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06570.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06557.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4912go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5038go.jpg">

On Connor Hellebuyck Night, the Jets Fall 2-1 to Los Angeles in Overtime

<h2>FIRST-PLACE Jets Improve to 28-12-2</h2>Sure, it was just a 5-2 home win over the third worst team in the NHL, but it just might have been the Winnipeg Jets best performance of the season.&nbsp;Leaning on Connor Hellebuyck’s brilliance, his 300th career victory and a sensational penalty-killing operation, the Jets overcame eight minor penalties, a two-man disadvantage and two four-minute minors to score a goal on their only power-play and whip the Nashville Predators 5-2.&nbsp;The Jets came into the game in a mini-slump, having gone 0-2-1 since a big win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Dec. 23. The team hadn’t yet won in 2025 and were 0-1-1 in the first two games of a season-long eight-game homestand. However, they laid it all on the line in front of small Tuesday night crowd, took a quick 3-0 first period lead and then battled through penalty after penalty to run the Predators out of the rink. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Jets took control of this one early – and quickly. Winnipeg opened the scoring at 6:30 when Rasmus Kupari elected not to shoot when he had a chance, but instead took the puck behind the Nashville net and tried to come back and jam it under Juuse Saros’ pads. The puck lay in the crease for a second as Kupari and Morgan Barron jammed at it until, finally, Preds’ defenceman Nick Blankenburg swatted it into his own net.&nbsp;Just 16 seconds later Josh Morrissey skated in from the point and drilled a slap shot under the bar to make it 2-0. It was Morrissey’s fifth goal of the season while Dylan DeMelo and Adam Lowry drew the assists.&nbsp;Nashville had a couple of decent chances to score with the Jets’ Dylan Coghlan in the penalty box, but Hellebuyck was rock solid. At 18:36, Kyle Connor did what he does best – take a pass from Mark Scheifele and drill a 30-foot wrister to Saros’ stick side and off the twine at the back of the net. It was Connor’s 23rd goal of the year and Scheifele’s 24th assist. Ville Heinola also tallied an assist as the Jets went to the first intermission leading 3-0.&nbsp;In the second period, referee Cody Beach either went blind or had a brain hematoma. He called a holding penalty on the Jets Neal Pionk after Pionk lost his stick and pushed Colton Sissons. Pionk pushed Sissons. Didn’t hold him, pushed him. Still, Beach called a holding penalty because … of course he did.&nbsp;The Jets fought it off, but it was just so typical of the state of NHL officiating – make up rules as you go along or call things you don’t see.&nbsp;The Predators finally got on the board with their third power play of the night (the Jets still had none) when Filip Forsberg scored at 16:25 with Pionk in the box for delay of game. These two guys with the orange bands were desperate to keep Nashville in the game.&nbsp;After a second period that was pretty much a gift for Nashville – Morrissey was also injured and played only a couple of shifts -- the Jets outshot the visitors 10-6 (21-16 overall) and only gave up a single power-play goal.&nbsp;Things got crazier in the third period as Beach became as ridiculous as he is incompetent. At 2:43 Kupari was tripped by Vinnie Hinostroza and went falling to the ice. Completely out of control due to the trip, Kupari’s stick came up and clipped Sissons. Beach called two minutes for tripping against Hinostroza and four minutes to Kupari for high sticking. It was, without question, too ridiculous to believe, but it was also sadly indicative of how bad NHL officiating has become.&nbsp;The Jets finally got their first power play of the night (called by the other official Chris Lee) at 7:42 when Morgan’s brother Justin Barron was sent off for holding David Gustafsson. The Jets responded almost immediately. At 7:51, just nine seconds later, Scheifele got the puck to Nikolaj Ehlers skating in from the point who shot it across the crease where Gabriel Vilardi tipped it past Saros. It was 4-1 Jets and Winnipeg had regained some control of the argument. &nbsp;&nbsp;At 9:25, Roman Josi scored for the Preds on a shot from the point that was going wide until it hit Logan Stanley’s skate and slid past Hellebuyck. That made it 4-2 and gave Nashville some life.&nbsp;Nashville had big life after Stanley was assessed a four-minute high-sticking minor at 10:31 for something that happened to Jonathan Marchessault. That made it seven minors to Winnipeg – all but one called by Cody Beach -- and two to Nashville. There was something really fishy going on and it wasn’t about to get any less stinky.&nbsp;Not long after the Jets fought off the first minor penalty to Stanley, Beach did it again. During some back-and-forth along the boards in the neutral zone, Beach called a hooking penalty on Kyle Connor. Suddenly after the Jets had fought off the first penalty of a four-minute minor, they found themselves two-men down with 1:36 to go in the second minor penalty to Stanley.&nbsp;To their everlasting credit, the Jets fought off the Preds two-man advantage and then, after Nashville pulled its goaltender late in the game, Nino Niederreiter flipped a shot from his own blueline into the empty net to give the Jets their final, a 5-2 advantage.&nbsp;Winnipeg outshot Nashville 30-28 despite the fact the Predators had eight power plays to Winnipeg’s one. The Jets won 52.9 per cent of the faceoffs and blocked 24 shots.&nbsp;The three stars were (3) Morgan Barron, (2) Mark Scheifele and of course (3) Connor Hellebuyck. Interestingly, Adam Lowry had the best line of the night. He had an assist, was plus-two, had a shot, two hits, two blocked shots and won 67 per cent of his faceoffs in 18 minutes and 37 seconds of ice time. He also led the power play which was brilliant and held Nashville to one power play goal in eight chances.&nbsp;The Jets entire penalty-killing unit should have been the game’s first star.&nbsp;Winnipeg will go at it again on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Canada Life Centre when the Los Angeles Kings come to town.The full photo gallery of Tuesday's game is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00848.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00802.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00946.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01027.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06058.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05959.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06031.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06162.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06114.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06081.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01074.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc01159.jpg">

Jets Overcome Eight Nashville Power Plays to Beat the Predators 5-2

<h2>Jets fall 4-2 to visiting Red WIngs </h2>The Winnipeg Jets are ice-cold. Dare we say as cold as Winnipeg’s frigid weather. A Jets team that played with so much passion and pizzazz for the first three months of the season has fallen into a January funk that has put a damper on what had been a brilliant first half.&nbsp;Saturday night in front of 14,527 of the faithful at Canada Life Centre, the Jets started slowly and ended with a thud as the lowly Detroit Red Wings came to town and knocked off the No. 1 team in the NHL 4-2.&nbsp;Dylan Larkin had a pair of goals and Alex Lyon was solid in goal for Detroit, but that wasn’t the story. This Jets team that was so dynamic for so long has fallen into an offensive funk. Since New Year’s Eve, when they lost 5-2 in Colorado, the Jets have come home and lost 4-3 in overtime to Anaheim and then, on Hockey Night in Canada, they fell 4-2 to the same Red Wings team that they whipped 6-2 in Detroit on Oct. 30.&nbsp;At the midway point of the campaign, the Jets are now 27-12-2, but they’re 0-2-1 in their last three and 0-1-1 after the first two games of their current season-long, eight-game homestand.“Yeah, a couple unfortunate bounces, hit a bunch of posts as a team. You beat the goalie, but you can’t beat the post,” said Jets forward Cole Perfetti. “The effort was there. Sometimes you’re not going to get those bounces.”The Red Wings opened the scoring on their second power play in the first six minutes of the opening period when Dylan Larkin scored his 15th of the year at 6:25. At this point, it appeared it was going to be a long night for the Jets. Eight minutes into the game and the Jets had found themselves shorthanded twice, had lost star D-man Josh Morrissey after he was hit in the face with a shot and was sent to the room for repairs and the Wings had outshot them 10-1. It was ugly, especially against a team that was not only 25th in the league, but also a club the Jets had whipped 6-2 in Detroit on Oct. 30.After Cole Perfetti and Logan Stanley each hit the post behind Detroit netminder Alex Lyon and Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor both missed glorious scoring opportunities, the Jets escaped the first period down 1-0. On the bright side Morrissey was sewn up and got back into the game, but on the downside, Colin Miller took a puck to the face and struggled to get down the corridor to the locker room.Detroit outshot Winnipeg 17-7 in the opening 20 minutes and were it not for Hellebuyck, it could have been disaster.At the 3:33 mark of the second period, the Wings picked up third power play of the game when Tyler Motte fell down and for reasons known only to referee Chris Schlenker, drew a tripping penalty on David Gustafsson who never touched Motte. The Wings took advantage of their good fortune exactly one minute later as Lucas Raymond scored his 16th of the season from Patrick Kane. Detroit led 2-0 and the Jets looked completely cooked.&nbsp;However, at 5:48, the Jets got a little puck luck. Morrissey took a pass from Mark Scheifele at the point and fired what seemed to be a harmless shot that went through four players in front and the right between Lyon’s legs to make it 2-1. Nino Niederreiter also drew an assist as the offensively-slumping Jets finally got on the board.&nbsp;Winnipeg completely dominated the second period and should have blown the game wide open. But thanks to Schlenker and his whistle (and more often the lack of a whistle) and a good effort by Lyon in the Wings’ goal, the Jets trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes. Winnipeg outshot Detroit 10-3 and made the Wings look like an AHL team for the final 10 minutes, but it didn’t show on the scoreboard.&nbsp;In the third period, the Jets came out pancake flat. They just had no jump at all and it cost them at 7:14 when Alex DeBrincat was the last to touch a puck that got past Hellebuyck off the skate of Jets defenceman Ville Heinola. At this stage, with Detroit leading 3-1 the near-sellout crowd at Canada Life Centre sounded more like pallbearers at a morgue than a group of supporters at a hockey arena.At 11:43, the Jets got their second power play opportunity of the night and did nothing. In fact, they didn’t even manage a shot on goal. It was brutal.Then, out of the blue at 16:46, the Jets caught another break. Vladislav Namestnikov got the puck back to Neal Pionk who fired a low shot at Lyon that was tipped past the Detroit netminder by Nikolaj Ehlers. It was 3-2 and the Jets had some life.The Jets pulled Hellebuyck for a sixth attacker with two minutes to play and while they had a couple of decent chances, the Red Wings finished it off when Dylan Larkin scored an empty netter at 19:31.It was a disappointing loss for a team that should be so much better. The Jets were outshot 29-23, won only 40 per cent of their faceoffs and didn’t have a sniff of a power-play goal on two chances.The Jets will get another chance to right the ship on Tuesday night when the Nashville Predators come to town for a 7 p.m. start.The Jets had better pick it up or this will be a very long homestand.Photos from Saturday's game vs. Detroit are courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder: <img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00354.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00425.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00612.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00478.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a1629go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2091go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5716go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a2913go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8046go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9944kc.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9058go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00676.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6385go.jpg">

Winnipeg Upset 4-2 at Home by Detroit - Jets are as Frigid as the Weather

<h2>Jets fall again to the Lowly Ducks</h2>The Winnipeg Jets never have an easy time with the Anaheim Ducks.&nbsp;Thursday night at Canada Life Centre, the Ducks got a goal from Troy Terry, his second of the night, as Anaheim beat Winnipeg for the second straight time. Back on Dec. 18, in Anaheim the Jets blew a 2-1 lead in the dying minutes to fall 3-2. Thursday night at home, the Jets led 3-2 with two minutes to play and fell in overtime.At least they notched a point. Winnipeg is now 27-11-2 on the season and have lost their last two games.&nbsp;As it often is, overtime was wild. The Jets were putting on the pressure when Anaheim goaltender John Gibson dislodged his own goal to stop play. The Anaheim net was dislodged again late in the overtime period, but this time the whistle didn’t blow, and Terry took the puck the other way and beat Hellebuyck for the game winner.&nbsp;“We came out really well in the first, obviously a great start. Just they're a hardworking team, young group, and there were some, it's the same stuff that happens any game, where you lose a little bit of momentum," Josh Morrissey said post-game."I thought we actually did a good job of kind of losing momentum, getting it back and playing a pretty solid third period until giving up that tying goal. Those are some things we can clean up."It didn’t take the Jets long to get going. Just 33 seconds after the opening faceoff, Gabriel Vilardi dug the puck out from the Anaheim corner, got it to Kyle Connor, who slipped it back to Mark Scheifele alone in front and suddenly it was 1-0 Winnipeg.The Jets made it 2-0 at 17:17 when Josh Morrissey sent Alex Iafallo down the left wing and into the Ducks zone. Iafallo sent a beautiful pass across the crease to captain Adam Lowry who ripped it upstairs on Anaheim goaltender John Gibson. It was Lowry’s 10th of the season.&nbsp;However, Anaheim always plays the Jets tough, and the Ducks were no different on this night. At 18:58, Leo Carlsson fired a shot off the post, off Hellebuyck and into the net to make it 2-1. Anaheim outshot Winnipeg 10-7 and had the better of the play for the final seven minutes of the frame.In the second period, the Ducks tied it up at 2-2 at 6:52 when Troy Terry’s seemingly harmless shot from the circle went between Hellebuyck’s legs.&nbsp;The period finished with the two teams even at a pair of goals each although Winnipeg dominated the middle frame, outshooting Anaheim 12-4 and controlling the play. Still, one flukey goal can have a huge impact and Terry’s fluke certainly did.&nbsp;“I thought our second period was probably our worst period," head coach Scott Arniel said bluntly. "I thought in the first, we were great and we had all kinds of opportunities, got the lead and then, in the second period, through the neutral zone, we turned some pucks over and kind of let them get into some rush situations and in the third, we went out and dominated. We got the lead again late and gave up that (tying goal). A little bit of the mental side of things. With four (games) in six (days), I’m not using that as an excuse but when you start seeing those kinds of mistakes, it has to drop into there somehow.”In the final 20 minutes, the Jets played well, but just couldn’t get a break around the net. Then, at the 17:16 mark, Alex Iafallo – the hardest working player all night – found a loose puck behind the net and wrapped it around Gibson to give the Jets a 3-2 lead. Nino Niederreiter and Josh Morrissey drew the assists.But the Ducks just don’t quit when they play Winnipeg and at 18:10, Radko Gudas drilled a blistering shot from the point that Hellebuyck didn’t see until it was coming back past him off the back of the net. It was Gudas’s first goal of the year, and it sent this one to overtime.&nbsp;The Jets, who are still in first place overall in the NHL, will play again at home on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CST when the Detroit Red Wings come to town for the first and only time this season.Photos from Thursday's game vs. Anaheim are courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04573.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04627.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04586.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04696.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04801.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04838.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04874-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04886.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04979.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04996.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04996.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04998.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05053.jpeg">

Anaheim Comes From Behind Again, Beats Jets 4-3 in Overtime

<h2>Moose fall twice to Stars</h2>The Manitoba Moose fell two times in as many games to the Texas Stars this past week. The visitors took the first of the two contests, winning a Sunday afternoon game by a commanding 6-2 final, before once again finding a win over the Moose with a 3-1 victory two days later.The games were Manitoba's 10th and 11th losses in a span of 12 games. Things have not been pretty for the Moose this season, which currently sit at 7-19-1 on the year.Sunday's game saw the Stars pull out to a 3-0 lead before Manitoba could even find a goal. They did, off the stick of Mason Shaw, but his marker - paired with the first goal of the year from Ashton Sautner - was not enough for a Moose victory, as Kaapo Kahkonen made just 23 stops on the 29 pucks fired his way in the 6-3 loss.“We do things right for 10 minutes, and then the next 10 we don’t do things right and we pay the consequences," Shaw said post-game. "We got off to a good start, but if you don’t do that for 60 minutes you’re not gonna be successful."On Tuesday, it was more of the same, with Texas once again jumping out to a 3-0 lead, all before the Moose could find a way to score. Eventually, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby got the hosts on the board in the third period, it was far too little, too late. Thomas Milic turned aside 20 of the 23 shots he faced on the night.“We've got to start finding a way to win," Jonsson-Fjallby said. "I think we all feel this was at least a small step forward. We played way better today, it was a much tighter game."Next up for Manitoba is a Friday night affair with the Calgary Wranglers on the road, before the Moose face of against Calgary again in the second half of the weekend set on Sunday night. Members of the Game On photography staff were on site for the two games, and a selection of their photos can be found below:*Photos courtesy of Steve Sasaki and James Carey Lauder<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_3407.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_4330.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6334go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5992go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a8573go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_4534.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_4820-2.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_3288.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5987go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_6702.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5273go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_5230.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9454go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5608go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_6600.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9750go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/img_6179.jpg">

GALLERY: Moose Drop Two-Game Series with Texas

<h2>Jets win at home again, improving to 14-3-1 at Canada Life Centre</h2>It was a trap game. A decent team that just happens to be 30th in the NHL rode into Winnipeg looking to upset the No. 1 team in the league.Sadly, for the Nashville Predators, the Winnipeg Jets would not be trapped.Gabriel Vilardi scored two goals, Nik Ehlers and Kyle Connor each had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck recorded his league-leading fifth shoutout of the season as the Jets whipped the visiting Predators 3-0 in front of another sellout crowd at Canada Life Centre.With the win, the Jets recorded their fourth straight victory and improved to 14-3-1 in front of the home crowd this season. Now 27-10-1, the Jets are the top team in the NHL with one game remaining in 2024. The Jets are 7-2-1 in their last 10.&nbsp;“This is a great, the fans were outstanding tonight,” said Hellebuyck who now has nine shutouts in the calendar year of 2024. “We played hard tonight. Our team worked hard. We ground it out and got another big win. It’s fun playing at home.”Although the first period was scoreless, there was still plenty of offence. The shots were 9-9 and while Hellebuyck was forced to make a couple of outstanding saves, Jets forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor had tremendous scoring chances.In the second period, the Jets continued to create chances but Vilardi, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor just couldn’t find the target. Even with two power plays and a handful of great scoring chances, the Jets couldn’t beat Juuse Saros.&nbsp;Then, at 17:15, Dylan DeMelo ripped a blistering shot, bar down that hit the bottom of the crossbar and deflected off Saros into the back of the net to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. On a night when the team’s high-scoring stars couldn’t buy a goal, DeMelo scored his first of the season from Morgan Barron (his second assist of the year) and Logan Stanley.&nbsp;Winnipeg outshot Nashville 8-7 in the period (17-16 after 40 minutes) and probably should have been ahead 4- or 5-0. But Saros and some bad puck luck kept the Jets from blowing it open.&nbsp;Nashville opened the third period with the man advantage after Stanley was sent to the box for slashing at the 20-minute mark of the second period. The best scoring chance during the Preds power play was a two-on-man the other way as Morgan Barron and Vladislav Namestnikov had a great opportunity that was foiled by Saros. However, shortly after the Jets killed the penalty, Nashville had five beautiful scoring chances and they missed the net on all but one. It was still 1-0, five minutes into the period, but the Preds were making noise.&nbsp;However, that was about the time the Jets got their Mojo back. Winnipeg started taking the play to Nashville again and only Saros kept the visitors in the match.Eventually Winnipeg would add to its lead. At 13:44, with the Jets enjoying a two-man advantage, Kyle Connor fed Nikolaj Ehlers who fed Gabriel Vilardi who was all alone in front and suddenly – bang, bang, bang -- it was 2-0 Jets.A mere 59 seconds later, with the Jets still a man-up, Vilardi scored his second of the game and 17th of the year as Connors and Ehlers drew the assists once again.&nbsp;For the final five minutes, the Jets played lock-down defence to secure Hellebuyck’s fifth shutout. Hellebuyck’s goals against average dropped to 2.02 and with 22 stops, his save percentage rose to .932. He is now 24-5-1 in 30 starts this season.With two points, Connor moved into sixth overall in scoring in the NHL with 22 goals and 51 points. The three stars were DeMelo, Vilardi and Hellebuyck.&nbsp;The Jets play again on Tuesday night, New Year’s Eve as they head to Colorado to play the vaunted Avalanche in what could be a game for the ages. It starts at 7 p.m. CST and it’s on TSN 3.Photos from Monday's game vs. Nashville are courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03578.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03568.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04005.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a0956go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a9796go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03742.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3294go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a6758go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03720.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a3057go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04056.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4088go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a4442go.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04105.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc04137.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1h0a5055go.jpg">

Jets Shut Out Predators 3-0 for Fourth Straight Win

<h2>Team Canada snub puts on a show</h2>There are a few people around the National Hockey League who don’t think Mark Scheifele is good enough to play for Team Canada at the 2025 Four Nations’ Face-Off.Those people, namely Don Sweeney and Jon Cooper, have not been paying attention.The week after the Canadian team was named and players such as Travis Konecny, Sam Bennett, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel were named to the squad ahead of the sixth-leading scorer among Canadian players in the NHL, Scheifele was on fire.In the past week, the 31-year-old centre had four goals and six points in two games to lift the Jets to a first-place record of 26-10-1. The Jets won both games and are now 8-2-1 in their last 11.&nbsp;Because of his superb play, he was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week. It was the first time this year and the eighth time in his career that Scheifele has been chosen as one of the Stars of the Week.He had three goals and four points (his 10th career hat-trick and second of the year) in a 5-2 win over the Leafs in Toronto on Dec. 23. He also notched his sixth game-winning goal of the year. He became the first player in franchise history to wear only a Jets uniform to record 10 career hat-tricks. (Ilya Kovalchuk had 10 with the Atlanta Thrashers)Scheifele followed that performance on Dec. 28, with a goal and an assist in the Jets 4-2 comeback victory over the red-hot Ottawa Senators. It was his 13th multi-point performance of 2024-25 in just 37 games. The 31-year-old Scheifele has 22 goals and 44 points this season, good enough for 15th overall in the league in scoring and sixth among Canadian players.&nbsp;He has placed among the Top 10 league leaders in game-winning goals (t-2nd; six), shooting percentage (minimum: 1 SOG/GP – 5th; 25.9 percent) and goals (t-5th; 22). He has already reached 20-goal plateau this season, the 10th straight season in which he’s scored at least 20 goals.The 31-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., who was the Jets first ever selection (seventh overall) in 2011, is on pace to surpass his single-season highs in goals (49) and points (98).He had a brief period when he slumped this season but that was chalked up to a painful wrist injury that affected his shot. For the most part, Scheifele has been sensational this season.However, he wasn’t “good enough” to make Team Canada and that just might have been the best thing to happen to the Jets this season. The snub has lit a fire under Scheifele that has made him one of the best players in the league for the past month – and certainly for the past week.

Jets' Star Center Takes League's Top Honour

<h2>Jets beat up Senators 4-2 at home</h2>RECAP:After falling behind 2-0 on Saturday evening, the Winnipeg Jets woke up and played some rock solid hockey for the second half of their all-Canadian affair with the Ottawa Senators, scoring four-straight goals, beating the visitors 4-2 from Canada Life Centre. Opening a stretch of games that will see 10 of 11 played at home, including a season-high eight-game homestand, the Jets gave their home fans something to talk about - despite trailing 2-0 at one point.Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and three points, while Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele each scored and added an assist, while Connor Hellebuyck earned his league-leading 23rd win of the season.Gabe Vilardi scored a pretty power play marker to give Winnipeg the lead midway in the third, before Ehlers ripped home his 30th point of the season just two minutes later, putting the cherry on the top of the Jets' 26th victory of the season. Next up is a clash with fellow Central Division opponent the Nashville Predators on Monday. That game is set to be aired live on Amazon Prime at 6:30 PM central time. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873176220101427710">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873176220101427710</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873181777680056382">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873181777680056382</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873182125052313808">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873182125052313808</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873186029664125145">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873186029664125145</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873195746784362891">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873195746784362891</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873195858579341433">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873195858579341433</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873201096308736124">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873201096308736124</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873203489268220071">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873203489268220071</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873203895985684492">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1873203895985684492</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Ottawa is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02697.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02764.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09922.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc02948.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03025.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03036.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03107.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03118.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03215.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03254.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03372.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc03382.jpeg">QUOTEABLE:Forward Nikolaj Ehlers on his team picking up another win at home:“There’s so many games left. We’re not even halfway.”Mark Scheifele on losing the puck before scoring his goal:“Yeah, I was actually pretty pissed at my self that I bobbled it, Oatesie isn’t going to be pumped about that one. I don’t think the goalie was expecting a little chip backhand short side, so sometimes you have to be lucky.”WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg will host the Nashville Predators on Monday before hitting the road for a Tuesday night test in Colorado on the second half of a back-to-back. The Jets will then return home for the start of a season-high eight-game homestand to start the month of January.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 4 Ottawa Senators 2

<h2>Jets proving their doubters wrong as they enter the unofficial second half of the 2024-25 season</h2>After scoring three goals in front of family and friends in Toronto following the Jets' final game before Christmas, Mark Scheifele made a modest yet telling statement:"They don't hand out awards at Christmas, but we're happy to get a couple days off and get recharged and going for the next half of the season," he said. "I am just very happy with our team and happy to be a part of it."He’s certainly right when it comes to trophies at the Christmas break. None await the Jets. However, when a team in the smallest market in the league (by a mile) finds itself in first place overall at the break, there is definitely reason for Scheifele to be happy with his team.This local squad is pretty sensational. That 5-2 win in Toronto on Monday was proof of that (and yeah, yeah, the Leafs didn’t have Auston Matthews).&nbsp;And sure, I’m not naïve, I’ve heard all the comments on all the TV sports shows and podcasts from Ottawa to Vancouver – “The Jets fast start was a fluke.” “They really aren’t that good.” “They started 15-1 and they’re a mediocre 10-9-1 since then.” “There are a lot of teams right behind them with games in hand.” “They can’t beat Vegas.” “They won’t beat Colorado or Dallas when it counts.”&nbsp;Yep, I’ve heard all of them and there are moments when I reluctantly agree with many of those sentiments. I mean, those two ugly 4-1 home losses to St. Louis and Columbus this month have been sobering. However, it’s Christmas. It’s a nice time to remember that the Winnipeg Jets are the No. 1 team in the NHL and praise the people who have given this small, barren winter city at the gateway to the prairies something to cheer about as 2024 draws to a close.Individually, the Jets have some of the most exciting players in the game.Kyle Connor is seventh in the league in both scoring and goals. He’s second in power play goals. He’s even a rock-solid plus-eight. He might not be the best player in the league, but he could be the most electrifying. Every time he touches the puck, there is a chance he’s either going to score or create a scoring chance.Mark Scheifele is 15th in scoring and seventh in goals. He has two hat-tricks this season. Just like his linemate Connor, he plays 20 minutes a game and is a plus-four. He’s become one of the best two-way players in the game -- and yes, I’m sure there is some new-fangled stat that probably proves otherwise, but when you watch him play, he’s the first forward back more often than not.As an aside, Scheifele should have been chosen to play for Team Canada in February’s Four Nations’ Face-Off. Anthony Cirelli? Brandon Hagel? GM Don Sweeney? AGM Jim Nill? For goodness sake. And yes, I’ve heard all the excuses for passing on Scheifele and every one is bullfeathers.Adam Lowry struggles to score – he gets so many great chances – but he’s simply a beast -- one of the best faceoff men, penalty killers and checkers in the game. Period.&nbsp;Gabriel Vilardi has 14 goals and 17 assists and is as good a first-line puck-control, cornerman as there is in the NHL. He’s in the Top 20 in power play goals and, most importantly, he has played all 36 games. Those who know Vilardi’s history will know how sensational that is.Josh Morrissey is the most exciting defenceman in the NHL. No, he may not be the best, but he’s a brilliant skater and puckhandler who can create scoring chances with the best forwards in the game. He’s 10th in the NHL in assists, and the fourth leading scorer among defencemen in the league. He’s also a plus-10 and plays 24 minutes a night.Connor Hellebuyck is the best goaltender in the world. Full stop. So far this season, he leads the NHL in goals against average (2.07), save percentage (.927), shutouts (4) and minutes played. There are others that are very good, but this two-time Vezina Trophy winner has no equal.There are more, of course. Dylan DeMelo, Alex Iafallo, Morgan Barron, Cole Perfetti, Neal Pionk and Nikolaj Ehlers and Dylan Samberg when they’re healthy, have all contributed mightily to a success that many thought was impossible after the Jets failed in the 2024 post-season and went through another summer of “Will Chevy sign this guy or will this guy leave?”&nbsp;Ah yes, Chevy. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has done a remarkable job getting this team to the top of the league. Smart trades, great drafts, some shocking long-term signings and the move from Rick Bowness to Scott Arniel behind the bench, have all contributed to this exciting 36-game run to the top.&nbsp;So yes, Scheifele was right on Monday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena when he said there would be no awards at Christmas. However, he didn’t mention that he and his teammates gave Winnipeg the best present any group of hockey fans could ask for – first place overall in the NHL.&nbsp;And yes, being Winnipeggers we are all well-aware that this brilliant start could turn to crap in 2025. However, for some reason, I’m still enthusiastic.If nothing else, this team is fun. And when you purchase a hockey ticket, fun is a big part of what you’re buying. And it’s also going to be trip watching Hellebuyck, Scheifele, Morrissey and Connor take more steps toward Winnipeg hockey immortality.The Winnipeg Jets might not win the Stanley Cup, but they have a tremendous hockey team that just might shock a few people before this long, grinding season ends.

The Young Guys in the Winnipeg Jets' 2023 Draft

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