The Western Hockey League has announced Winnipeg ICE forward Zach Benson as its Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, February 26.

Over a span of seven days, the projected Top-10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft put up five goals and 13 total points in his four games played during that timeframe. All four games occurred on the road, while Benson recorded points in each contest.

Highlighted by a hat trick and a career-high six points in a lopsided 8-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday, Benson capped off his impressive week in style, picking up his second-straight First Star of the Game honour in the process. It was the Chilliwack, BC product's third hat trick of the season.

But before that game, Benson also had points in the three games prior. He began the week with a shorthanded marker and an assist in a 4-2 win over Swift Current. He then potted three assists to go alongside one goal on Wednesday in Winnipeg's 5-2 win over Calgary. Friday's performance only saw one assist from Benson, but it was on the game-winning goal - a 2-1 victory on Matthew Savoie's winner.

Formerly selected 14th overall in 2020 by the ICE at the WHL Prospects Draft, Benson now has 68 goals and 175 points in just 136 career games. He is ranked second among all players (behind Connor Bedard) in points and assists, while also placing second in shorthanded goals across the league.

Benson is ranked No. 7 among North American skaters by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau in advance of the final stretch run of the 2022-23 CHL season. He and his ICE teammates next take to the ice on Tuesday evening in an afternoon rematch in Edmonton with the Oil Kings. The game can be viewed live on CHL TV.

ICE Star Benson Named WHL Player of the Week

<h2>Jets Down Devils for 4-0 home win</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have hit the 50-win mark. They did so by way of a 4-0 final over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Friday.Starting the game with two quick goals, the Jets built upon their lead with two more second period tallies, sealing the deal on Connor Hellebuyck's seventh shutout of the season.He turned aside all 24 pucks that went his way on Friday.The seventh shutout was a career high for Hellebuyck in one season and a franchise high for the Jets/Thrashers. Alex Iafallo scored two goals, David Gustafsson got his first since late-January, while Mark Scheifele snapped a lengthy dry spell with his first in 10 games played (36th of the season). The Jets' penalty kill shut down New Jersey's offensive attack, while its well-rounded offence easily could have potted a few more goals, despite injuries to Gabe Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari and Neal Pionk.Next up for Winnipeg is the final test of the four-game homestand. That game will feature the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 2:00 PM central time. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905776527687680175">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905776527687680175</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905776740334768193">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905776740334768193</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905779744408469959">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905779744408469959</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905781003148468689">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905781003148468689</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905793221764239427">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905793221764239427</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905795779052388569">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905795779052388569</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905797699959746885">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905797699959746885</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905797889164747123">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905797889164747123</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905801318377341170">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905801318377341170</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905815448903385437">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1905815448903385437</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Friday's game vs. New York is courtesy of Scott Stroh:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09028.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09070.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08983.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09200.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05540.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09548.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09570.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09560.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09451.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09730.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Connor Hellebuyck on Jets fans' MVP chant:“That’s really cool. They really believe in me and I’m really grateful to have them around and spend my career here. It means a lot.”Scott Arniel on the MVP chants:"Our crowd has been awesome all year. They recognize, whether it's great plays or great players. A few guys have hit milestones this year but if you were to ask us and vote as our team, we'd vote Helle as the MVP. I think a lot of people recognize how great he is and he's not done. He's got a lot of work ahead of him still but, at the end of the day, that's always nice to hear."WHAT’S NEXT:The Jets will conclude their homestand with an afternoon matinee against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. The all-Canadian showdown will get underway from Canada Life Centre at 2:00 PM central time. The game can be viewed on TSN.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 4 New Jersey Devils 0

<h2>EHLERS BRILLIANT OT GOAL SENDS JETS OVER CAPS AND INTO PLAYOFFS</h2>The Winnipeg Jets clinched a playoff berth.&nbsp;And Nikolaj Ehlers was the hero.&nbsp;Tuesday night at a sold-out Canada Life Centre, Ehlers scored on the only Jets’ shot in overtime as Winnipeg defeated the NHL’s first-place Washington Capitals 3-2 in an OT thriller. It was a playoff atmosphere from start to finish with the two top teams in professional hockey going head-to-head. There were big hits, plenty of nastiness, great goaltending, another historic Alex Ovechkin goal and an overtime outcome.&nbsp;All in all, it was one of the great games of the season.&nbsp;“This place was rocking with two first-place teams going at it,” said Mason Appleton, who scored the Jets second goal of the game. “Obviously, when you have the first-place team in the East and the first-place team in the West, it’s going to be a great game and (Ehlers’) goal was nice.”&nbsp;Not to make too much of an issue out of it, but the Jets got the win without the team’s No. 1 rightwinger Gabriel Vilardi and the team’s No. 2 defenceman Neal Pionk, who were both out of the lineup with injuries. It was a gutsy victory as the Jets improved to 49-19-4, one point behind the 47-16-9 Capitals in the NHL’s overall standings.&nbsp;The Jets also pulled eight points ahead of Dallas in the race for first in the West. The Jets are 7-3-0 in their last 10, 26-6-4 at home and are now 37-0-1 when leading after the second period. The Jets are 11-0-4 in overtime games this year as they swept the season series from Washington.Simply by finishing in a regulation tie, the Jets clinched a playoff berth. It's the seventh time in the last eight seasons, the Jets have reached the post-season, which is pretty good for the smallest market in the league.&nbsp;There will be a White Out this April.&nbsp;The Jets opened the scoring at 6:50 of the first period when Josh Morrissey drilled a shot from two strides over the Washington blueline that hit a Washington player in front and deflected past Caps goalie Logan Thompson. Mark Scheifele and Dylan DeMelo drew the assists and the Jets looked good.&nbsp;But with 40 seconds left in the period, Washington’s Andrew Mangiapane ripped a wrister high over the shoulder of Connor Hellebuyck and in a blink, the game was tied.&nbsp;The Jets outshot Washington 8-6 and played a solid period, but they had nothing to show for it.&nbsp;In the second period, the first six minutes looked like a prolonged Washington power play, and it seemed inevitable that they’d eventually score. But they didn’t. The Jets killed two penalties – off of two terrible calls – and then, with 12 seconds left in the period, Mason Appleton took a terrific pass from Nino Niederreiter and ripped a shot from the right circle over Thompson’s shoulder and under the bar to give the Jets a 2-1 lead.&nbsp;It was Appleton’s ninth goal of the season and his first goal in 13 games. Niederreiter, with his 18th assist and Cole Perfetti with his 30th drew the helpers.&nbsp;After two periods, the Jets led by a goal, but had been outshot 18-15, were down 2-1 in power play opportunities and Washington had won 57.1 per cent of the faceoffs. This looked a lot like the Jets 5-3 loss to Buffalo on Sunday, but after two periods, the Jets looked like Sunday’s Sabres. They were being beaten in every category, but they had a 2-1 lead.&nbsp;The third period was a high-paced back-and-forth between two great teams and for a while it looked like Jets would hold on to their one-goal lead. However, at the 16-minute mark, Ovechkin was left alone in the left circle and when the pass from Aliaksei Protas hit his stick, Ovie rifled a shot in the short-side corner to tie the game. It was his 36th of the season and the 889th of his career.&nbsp;However, it didn’t mean the Caps had a stranglehold on the outcome.&nbsp;In overtime, Washington won the faceoff and had control of the puck for the first minute and 20 seconds, but on a Caps line change, Ehlers was free down the right-wing and he took a perfect stretch pass off the boards from Dylan Samberg and went in, almost alone, on Thompson. At full speed, drilled a wrist shot under the bar to seal one of the biggest games of the season. Adam Lowry also drew an assist on Ehlers’ 24th goal of the year. Ehlers now has 24 goals and 61 points, which matches his point total from last year.&nbsp;The Caps outshot the Jets 29-25, won 53.8 per cent of the faceoffs and outhit Winnipeg 17-15. But the Jets had the advantage on the scoreboard.&nbsp;Ehlers, Appleton and Ovechkin were the three stars – in that order. Ehlers also had the best line of the night with the overtime winning goal, a plus-one rating, three shots, two hits and a takeaway in 17 minutes and 53 seconds of ice time. Luke Schenn led the Jets with six hits.&nbsp;Winnipeg will play again at home on Friday night against the New Jersey Devils. The starting time is 7:10 p.m.&nbsp;

Ehlers Scores Winner in OT as Jets Clinch a Playoff Berth

<h2>Jets drop to 48-19-4 with loss to buffalo</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to 48-19-4 thanks to a strange loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon.Despite dominating most facets of the game, Winnipeg came out on the bottom on Sunday, putting up just three goals to Buffalo's five. Snakebitten for the better part of the game, the Jets missed the net, hit a number of posts, while allowing fellow Manitoban James Reimer the opportunity to put on a show with some highlight reel-worthy stops at critical moments in the game. Eric Comrie did not play all too well in net, as he allowed four goals on 16 shots, while Reimer made 33 saves on the 36 pucks sent his way.Alongside Morweena's finest was Souris product Tyson Kozak, who scored for the Sabres in his first game back in his home province. Nino Niederreiter, Colin Miller and Nikolaj Ehlers each scored for Winnipeg, which will now play three more games at home on a four-game stand, including a test with the league-leading Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903889590244847818">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903889590244847818</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903896590013895054">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903896590013895054</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903900988811223458">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903900988811223458</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903930484167778430">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1903930484167778430</a>QUOTEABLE:Colin Miller on Connor Clifton's hit on Nino Niederreiter:“You never want injuries. I didn’t love the hit on Nino there, but you’ve got to be aware when some guys are out there. It happens, it’s part of the game, so thankfully both of those guys are alright.”Tyson Kozak on playing in Winnipeg and scoring in front of family and friends:“Roughly I’d say there’s probably around 150 people waiting for me. It’s cool to have them all come out. A couple minor hockey teams from back home came, so it’s pretty cool. I haven’t played in this building before so it was a lot of fun.”“Kind of unreal. I couldn’t believe it actually happened. I was able to score in front of a bunch of friends and family, so it’s kind of a surreal moment for me.”WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg will stay at home for the week, as the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks come to town for games on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 3 Buffalo Sabres 5

<h2>Moose Lose opener vs. abbotsford</h2>The Manitoba Moose fell to 22-34-1-3 on the season after dropping a relatively close 4-2 contest against the visiting Abbotsford Canucks on Friday.Coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Rockford on Wednesday, the Moose didn't quite have enough pop to extend the strong start of their week. Chris Driedger made 22 saves on the 26 pucks he faced in his home province, but it wasn't enough for Manitoba. The first period contained a wild sequence involving four separate goals in 2:26 of game time. Abbotsford scored two quick ones just 26 seconds apart making it 2-0 in the early going before the hosts responded with a looper from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby a minute-and-a-half later. But that was it for Manitoba's spark, as Tristan Nielsen potted his second of the period before the opening frame came to a close.Jonsson-Fjallby got his second of the game on a perfect redirection of a Dylan Coghlan point shot, making it just a one-goal game. The Canucks found the insurance marker on a late-game power play, with Ty Mueller sealing the deal on the 4-2 tally. "I thought we were good," said head coach Mark Morrison. "We made a couple mistakes in the first period that cost us. I think we outshot and out-chanced them in the first. We were solid for the whole hockey game. We couldn't find the back of the as much as we wanted to. I thought we needed a little bit more traffic, but I thought we played a solid hockey game. "The two clubs will do it all over again on Saturday evening, with puck drop from Canada Life Centre set for 6:00 PM central time.Members of the Game On photography staff are typically on site for Moose and Jets games, with a selection of their photos being shared below:*Photos courtesy of Steve Sasaki:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0569.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0665.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0749.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i1330.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0703.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i1259.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0897.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0901.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0879.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i0960.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/_13i1211.jpg">

GALLERY: Moose Drop First Game of Back-to-Back With Canucks

<h2>SAMBERG, THE BIG LINE AND HELLEBUYCK HAVE A HUGE NIGHT</h2>It was a test.&nbsp;The trade deadline had come and gone and all “the experts” claimed that the Dallas Stars, already a good hockey team, were significantly better with their moves at the deadline. For the NHL’s first-place Winnipeg Jets, Friday night’s game would be a regular-season indication as to their fitness for the post-season.The Jets 4-1 victory over the Stars was a clear indication that they not only passed the test, but were also ready to take on the toughest opponent come playoff time.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9371.jpg">Kyle Connor scored a pair of goals and dished out an assist, Mark Scheifele had three assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves to improve to 39-9-3 on the season as the Jets improved to 46-17-4 and regained sole possession of first place in the NHL.“Obviously they’re a good team and it felt like playoff atmosphere right from the get-go. Thanks to all the fans,” said Scheifele, the game’s first star. “We played pretty play but we try to do the right things every night.”With the win, the Jets moved to 36-0-1 when leading after two periods. They’ve also held the opposition to only one goal per game in four of the last five games.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a8385.jpg">Right from the start, it was clear this was going to be an epic regular-season battle.&nbsp;Although they were outshot 9-6, the Jets played brilliantly in the first period. Especially the big line of Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor and, of course, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.During the back-and-forth of the early going, Scheifele got loose in the Dallas zone, waited to make the right pass and hit defenceman Dylan Samberg with a little backhand flip pass. Samberg made no mistake drilling an 80-mile-per-hour wrist shot under the bar behind Dallas netminder Jake Oettinger. It was 1-0 Winnipeg on their third shot of the game. Scheifele and Connor drew the assists as Samberg, the Jets most improved player this season, scored his fifth of the season.The play was pretty even from that point on, even though both teams missed some excellent chances. However, it was the Jets who struck a second time.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a7297.jpg">With Scheifele and Vilardi battling for the puck in the Dallas corner, Scheifele finally got the biscuit to Connor who wristed one over Oettinger’s pad, just inside the post, and suddenly the Jets were ahead 2-0. For some reason, Vilardi didn’t credit for an assist, but Scheifele did, as Connor scored his 34th of the season.Despite being outshot, the Jets won 64.7 per cent of the faceoffs while outhitting Dallas 14-6. It was one of Winnipeg’s best periods of the season.The Jets took a 3-0 lead at the 6:43 mark of the second period when Scheifele got the pick to Josh Morrissey who played tic-tac-toe with Connor. After two quick passes, Connor moved to the slot and ripped a one-timer into the corner of the cage. It was Connor’s 35th goal, Morrissey’s 42nd assist and Scheifele’s 40th assist of the season and third point of the night.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9800.jpg">Still, this period belonged to Dallas. The Stars won nearly every faceoff and outshot the Jets 8-4, but Hellebuyck was rock solid once again and the Jets defence did a great job clearing the front of the net. Winnipeg outhit Dallas 13-5 (27-11 overall) and went to the second intermission leading by three.In the third period, the Stars came out flying, controlled the play and peppered shots at the Jets net. It seemed for a while as if the Jets were just hanging on. But then, a tough forecheck turned into a gritty goal.Alex Iafallo got the puck in the Dallas zone and chipped it back to Dylan DeMelo at the point. With two Jets causing havoc in front of Oettinger, DeMelo fired a wrister at the front of the net that both Brandon Tanev and Morgan Barron tipped past the Dallas goalie. Suddenly it was 4-0 (four goals on 13 shots) and the Jets were in control. It was Barron’s fifth of the year as Tanev and DeMelo picked up the assists. For Tanev, it was his first point as a member of the Winnipeg Jets since 2019.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a7861.jpg">The Stars’ Mason Marchment made it 4-1 at 16:11 of the third but by then, it was over.The three stars were Scheifele, Connor and Vilardi in that order. It was a tremendous night at both ends of the rink for the big line.&nbsp;<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9662.jpg">Dallas outshot Winnipeg 25-22 and won 51.8 per cent of the faceoffs. The Jets outhit Dallas 35-17 as Luke Schenn led the way with seven hits. Dylan Samberg had the best line of the night: a goal, a point and plus one with three shots on goal, two hits and three blocked shots in 23 minutes and eight seconds of ice time.The first-place Jets will head back out on the road this week as they open a three-game West Coast road swing in Seattle on Sunday at 8 p.m. CDT.<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9954.jpg">

First-place Winnipeg Jets Pass Big Test With 4-1 Win Over Dallas

<h2>Jets win 45th game of the season</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have improved to 45-17-4 on the season with a 2-1 home win over the visiting New York Rangers on Tuesday.Vlad Namestnikov and Gabe Vilardi scored for the Jets, while Connor Hellebuyck picked up his 38th win of the season.Mika Zibanejad answered for the Rangers, who were held without a goal following the first period.Luke Schenn made his debut for Winnipeg and finished with five hits and five shot blocks in just over 16 minutes of ice time. Brandon Tanev made his return to Winnipeg and brought fans to their feet with his strong forecheck and quick legs.Namestnikov scored the opening goal for the Jets early on in the first period, but Zibanejad scored on a Nino Niederreiter penalty later on, bringing things to 1-1 through 20 minutes.Vilardi answered back with a power play goal of his own in the second period, before Dylan DeMelo looked to put things away with an early tally in the third. But Peter Laviolette challenged the play for goaltender interference and the goal came off the board.The Rangers pulled for the extra attacker later, but Schenn, Hellebuyck and company slammed the door shut, sealing the deal on a 2-1 home win. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899610728769995093">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899610728769995093</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899613777458577629">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899613777458577629</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899618358842241338">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899618358842241338</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899618547581821374">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899618547581821374</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899615076010852561">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899615076010852561</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899632476013896167">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899632476013896167</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899633118681952472">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899633118681952472</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899657901389775057">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1899657901389775057</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Tuesday’s game vs. New York is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a4215.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9653.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05245.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05005.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05017.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a5970.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00537.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00580.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a5328.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00592.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00606.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9621.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05187.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a6731.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05285.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a7332.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Scott Arniel on Brandon Tanev:"Everybody knows him and knows what he does. Certainly has history here in Winnipeg. He can get underneath the skin of the opposition. He's quick though. He's a lot quicker... I know he was fast but you can really see his quickness. He's an energy bunner there. He just gets going and you like to see that. Puts a lot of pressure on the opposition."Luke Schenn on his past week:“Yeah, it’s been a whirlwind of a week. That’s an understatement. Obviously you’re not expecting to get traded and then it was Pittsburgh, you fly out to meet the team in Vegas, get flipped the next morning, fly back to Nashville. It’s just been a crazy week. Then on top of that, it’s been about six days since I skated. So, that was a little bit nerve-racking. I mean I skated here a little bit yesterday, but it’s was almost like having a double 4 Nations break with the time off. It was nice to get the first one out of the way there, and I appreciate everyone welcoming me in here.”WHAT’S NEXT:Winnipeg will stay at home for the week, with the Dallas Stars making a Friday night stop at Canada Life Centre in a huge four-point game. The Jets will then hit the road for a three-game trek out west beginning on Sunday.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 2 New York Rangers 1

<h2>Jets lose at home to philly</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to 42-15-4 on the season thanks to an uncharacteristic loss in extra time to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Having lost on Thursday night in Nashville, Winnipeg is actually streaking - in the wrong direction - with two-straight losses.Scoring the game's first goal on the stick of the red-hot Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg looked to take control and roll with the punches as the game wore on.However, that goal 10 minutes into the affair was the last that Winnipeg would score.The big, 6-foot-8 Ivan Fedotov stood in the way of another Jets' tally, turning aside 30 of the 31 shots he faced to pick up the win.Connor Hellebuyck made 31 stop on 32 shots, but ultimately lost the game in the shootout.Despite a strong overtime effort from the home club, Winnipeg was unable to get that coveted overtime winner, sending the team to its second shootout of the season, and first of the year at home.None of Scheifele, Kyle Connor or Gabe Vilardi could score in the mini game, while Matvei Michkov dazzled on his breakaway attempt, stealing the victory for Philadelphia. Next up is two days off for Winnipeg, before the team heads out on a four-game road trip through the Metropolitan Division. HIGHLIGHTS:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1895994403488936419">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1895994403488936419</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1895997190251925721">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1895997190251925721</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1895999730372510126">https://x.com/CBrooksie84/status/1895999730372510126</a>PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Philadelphia is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a3368.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc05952.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a2151.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a2491.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06004.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a4147.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a1198.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06253.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a6560.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc00012.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go1h0a5666.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a2785.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go1h0a9312.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06154.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06239.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9861.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06178.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a0413.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a0568.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc06352.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a0630.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Nikolaj Ehlers on Ivan Fedotov's big glove stop:"I hit my shot exactly the way I wanted to. I think his glove was just lucky to be there."Mark Scheifele on Logan Stanley Fighting Nic Deslauriers:“That was awesome. Fantastic for him. That’s one of the toughest guys in the league. That’s what Stan does, he’s a guys that will stick up for guys. He did it for me in Ottawa. He’s a guy who will lay it on the line and do anything for any guy on this team. Going up against a tough guy like him, that was awesome.”WHAT’S NEXT:The Jets will now head out on the road for four-straight games, making stops in New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Carolina before heading back home for a test with the New York Rangers on March 11.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 1 Philadelphia Flyers 2

<h2>Jets Do it again, beat sharks in overtime</h2>RECAP:The Winnipeg Jets needed all 60 minutes - and than some - on Monday evening, but walked away with their 10th-straight victory when all was said and done.When the dust settled, it was a 2-1 Winnipeg victory, despite the visiting San Jose Sharks leading the game 1-0 heading into the 59th minute. Josh Morrissey blasted home the game-tying goal with just 26 seconds left to play, before Mark Scheifele scored the overtime winner at the end of his period-opening shift. The goal was Scheifele's 329th career tally, moving him one goal ahead of Ilya Kovalchuk's franchise record of 328. He now sits first-place overall in goals scored for the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise. Connor Hellebuyck allowed a first period goal but nothing else, picking up his 35th win of the season. The Jets will look to keep the streak alive when they hit the road for a back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday in Ottawa and Nashville, respectively. PHOTOS:The extended photo library from Monday's game vs. San Jose is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09192.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09104.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09075.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a3067.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08673.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08721.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a3139.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08678.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09385.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a3751.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08764.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go1h0a2025.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a3589.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08797.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc08852.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a7556.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a7190.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a6955.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09758.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go-1h0a9399.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09866.jpg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dsc09885.jpeg"><img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/go1h0a2506.jpg">QUOTEABLE:Mark Scheifele on what he'd tell his younger self on breaking the franchise goal record:“He wouldn’t believe it, that’s for sure. A kid from Kitchener, playing with the Kitchener Dutchman way back when I was 16, I never would have believed you. All you’ve got to do is trust in God’s plan and that’s what I’ve done. Obviously, I am very grateful for my family, the Winnipeg Jets organization. They were the ones who trusted in me. I just want to keep on playing well for them.”Josh Morrissey on Mark Scheifele's goal:“I’ve been thinking about that goal probably more than him. You know, I envisioned it giving him a backdoor tap-in and whatnot. Obviously for him to get that OT winner and get the record, what an accomplishment. What he means to the city, this organization, from basically day one that the Jets came back. The first pick, the things he’s done in this community, for the fan-base. I mean you saw the fans embrace him. It’s special. He’s one of my best friends. You know, so happy for him. He works so hard. That’s a lot of goals, so it’s pretty impressive.”WHAT’S NEXT:The Jets will now head out on the road for two quick games, as they travel to Ottawa on Wednesday for a test with the Senators, before heading south to Nashville for the second leg of the back-to-back.

Game On Recap: Winnipeg Jets 2 San Jose Sharks 1

<h2>VILARDI SCORED TWICE AND CONNOR NOTCHED THE ONLY SHOOTOUT GOAL</h2>It took a shootout goal by Kyle Connor and the brilliance of Eric Comrie between the pipes, but the Winnipeg Jets have now won a franchise-high nine straight games.&nbsp;Saturday night in St. Louis, Gabriel Vilardi scored with 28 seconds left in regulation time, his second goal of the game, and then Connor scored the only goal of the shootout as the Jets beat the Blues 4-3.&nbsp;With the win, the Jets numbers during this remarkable 2024-25 season became even more eye-popping.&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Jets became the first team in the NHL to win 40 games and remain in first place overall in the NHL with a record of 40-14-3.2.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Jets lead the Western Conference by nine points over the Dallas Stars.3.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Jets are first in the NHL in goals for with 206 and best in the league in goals allowed with just 137 – two fewer than the L.A. Kings who have played three fewer games.4.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Jets improved to 31-0-1 when leading after the second period and are still the last remaining team in the NHL that has yet to lose when leading after any intermission.5.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Jets are 9-1-0 in their last 10 and 12-2-0 in their last 14. They have not lost since Jan. 20, more than five weeks ago.&nbsp;On Saturday night, Nikolaj Ehlers scored his 18th goal of the season to open the scoring and then Vilardi scored his 25th and 26th and now has a good chance to give the Jets three 30-goal scorers this season.&nbsp;However, it was Vilardi’s incredible top-in in the final minute, shortly after the Blues had taken the lead on a power-play goal thanks to a ridiculous four-minute penalty (with 4:28 left in regulation time) against Neal Pionk in a game in which referees Kyle Rehman and Corey Syvret (again) did everything they possibly could to keep the Blues out of the penalty box. In fact, in the end, St. Louis was one-for-four on the power play while the Jets were zero-for-two.&nbsp;“I really liked our effort,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel told reporters in St. Louis after the game. “We knew St. Louis was in a hunt themselves. I liked the way we came out. It was a great first period and we did a lot of the right things. Even the start of the second.“I just mentioned to the team that was a game where a lot of different things went on and it’s those games late in the year that you need to get the two points, find a way to win. It might be a playoff game, same type of thing. We were down and found a way to come back. I’m just happy we came out on the right side of it.”&nbsp;Eric Comrie, who was sensational in the shootout, made 21 saves to get the win. The Jets played without Team Canada D-man Josh Morrissey who was still suffering from the illness that kept him out the championship game of the Four Nations Face-Off. Winnipegger Joel Hofer was the Blues’ hard-luck loser in goal.&nbsp;Cole Perfetti had two assists for Winnipeg while Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele also dished out assists. Connor is now sixth in NHL scoring with 30 goals and 70 points while Scheifele is 12th on the list with 31 goals and 64 points. Vilardi moved up to 35th spot with 26 goals and 53 points.&nbsp;The first-place Jets returned home to Winnipeg right after the game and will face the San Jose Sharks at Canada Life Centre on Monday night. Game time is 6:30 p.m.&nbsp;

Jets Win Ninth Straight With 4-3 Shootout Victory in St. Louis

<h2>IT WILL BE A CLOSE GAME IF CANADA HAS ENOUGH FIREPOWER</h2>It’s unlikely there is a hockey fan in North America who doesn’t understand what’s happening on Thursday night. It’s also unlikely that there is a fan who isn’t aware of the impact and importance of an exhibition hockey game that, back in October, was promising to be little more than a February diversion.&nbsp;Thursday night, it’s the one-game final of the inaugural Four Nations Face-Off between Canada and the United States -- a tournament that has been a wonderful surprise at every level. However, it is not just a hockey game. For Canada, it's an international and cultural fight that hasn’t been seen since the 1972 Canada-Soviet Union Summit Series.&nbsp;Oh, sure we’ve had plenty of big games with both the USA and Russia since then. The Olympic gold medal games against the USA in 2002 and 2010 immediately come to mind.&nbsp;However, while the two countries battled hard on the ice in those Olympic Games, one country didn’t despise the other enough to boo its national anthem, That’s an opinion that has obviously changed. Politics is a nasty thing when one country becomes a rogue, authoritarian police state almost overnight. That, I'm afraid, is even more distasteful.&nbsp;It’s almost fitting, then, that this game on Thursday night has a real 1972 Canada-Soviet atmosphere engulfing it.&nbsp;The way the United States President has talked in the past two days about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the administration of the United States is now, for lack of a better term, a propaganda arm of Vladimir Putin’s Russian government. As Donald Trump spews Russian talking points about one of Canada’s allies (and until Jan. 20, 2025, an ally of the USA), and threatens to invade Canada, our relationship with the USA has changed instantly and dramatically.&nbsp;And Canadians have noticed. They have been booing the Star-Spangled Banner since the current United States president reneged on the Canada-Mexico-United States Trade Agreement, an agreement that he not only touted and but also bragged about. &nbsp;and instead announced that he will put 25 per cent trade tariffs on many important Canadian goods exported to the USA. It was not only a violation of the agreement, but it was also a targeted attack on Canada, with Trump making clear that he hoped to destroy his neighbours’ economy to force Canada to join the US as, “the 51st State.”&nbsp;Since then, every time Trump addresses the issue, he almost repeats, word-for-word, what Putin said shortly before he invaded Ukraine.&nbsp;Now, frankly, I would have preferred a loud chant of Trump Sucks! during the anthem as opposed to booing. After all, 48.3 percent of US voters did cast their ballots for Kamala Harris while 49.1 percent voted for Trump. It was a close election, and 75 million American voters knew what Trump was going to do to them – and us -- if he won the election. After all, when it comes to the MAGA movement, inflicting pain on people is a feature, not a bug.&nbsp;However, Trump did win and when he threatens, on an almost weekly basis, to “annex” Canada, it’s quite easy to understand why Canadians are pissed.&nbsp;For all intents and purposes, we are in an undeclared war with the United States, a country that is now an ally of the Russian government and if that doesn’t make Thursday’s hockey game a mirror of the final games of the ’72 Summit Series, I’d be hard-pressed to find another one that does. OK, sure, maybe the final of the 1987 Canada Cup between Canada and the Soviet Union (Canada won 6-5 on what was maybe the International Goal of the Century), but that’s the closest any other tournament has come. And when I covered that game at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, I didn’t sense an outright hatred for the opponent.&nbsp;Thursday night’s game will be different. It’s in Boston, a Blue State that voted for Harris last November and probably hates Trump as much as most Canadians, but still Canadians are righteously upset at the Donald and his threats, so for most Canadian hockey fans, while the venue will be more friendly than, say Tampa or Raleigh, it’s still being played on enemy ground. This is hockey war and Canadians – fans and players alike – want nothing less than a symbolic victory.&nbsp;“We’re out there playing for the flag, not the cameras,” said Team Canada’s Brandon Hagel during an off-day news conference earlier this week. “That’s a part of Canada that we have in there. We don’t need to initiate anything, we don’t have any group chats going on, we’re going out there playing our game and giving it everything and doing it for our country.”Hagel was referring to two the three US MAGAts, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and JT Miller who picked three fights just nine seconds into last Saturday night’s Canada-USA preliminary-round game in Montreal.Dirty, goon hockey is a trademark of the Tkachuk boys and they don’t need much of an excuse to make a cheap-ass spectacle of themselves. In fact, the Tkachuks’ dancing around like idiots against Canada last Saturday brought back memories of Matthew Tkachuk’s successful attempt to injure the Jets’ Mark Scheifele during the COVID season of 2020. The hit on Scheifele in which Tkachuk attempted to slice the Jets’ forward’s Achilles with his skate, was called “disgusting,” by then-Jets head coach Paul Maurice, but it was all in a day’s work for a Tkachuk brother (and why I’m glad Scheifele wasn’t asked to play for Team Canada this year).So, all that (and likely a little more), will be the backdrop for Thursday’s game in Boston. Canada, almost as a nation, is hoping the Canadians can avenge last Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Yanks, a close 2-1-with-an-empty- netter outcome that makes Thursday night’s game even more dramatic. Last Saturday’s game was close, this one could very well be close again. The Vegas oddsmakers on Wednesday had it at even-money.However, I do have to add a word of caution. The United States has a better team. The Americans have the best goaltender in the world in Connor Hellebuyck and they have more elite goal scorers. Canada’s goaltending is clearly second-best in this matchup and, after Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon and maybe Mitch Marner, the Canadians don’t have many (or any) pure goal scorers. As well, it’s been a really tough tournament for Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny, Brad Marchand and Anthony Cirelli, who are obviously having trouble with the elite level of speed this tournament has delivered.However, to be fair, McDavid, McKinnon, Crosby and the Canadian defensive corps have all been superb throughout the event, an event that was not supposed to be as good or as exciting as it has been. Oh, and Winnipeg Jets' D-man Josh Morrissey deserves a special shout out. He has been outstanding in every game. And we could not assess an international hockey tournament without mentioning one important intangible: There is no measuring stick for the size of the heart of a Canadian hockey player. Never has been. And that’s why you just can’t look at stats or even a player’s history and then suggest, “Well, the Canadians aren’t good enough.”The heart and soul of the Canadian hockey player has long driven Canada’s international success and that’s what Canadian hockey fans want to see on Thursday night.Give ‘em hell Team Canada. Give ‘em hell.

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