WINNIPEG – It took five games but the Winnipeg Jets finally have their first pre-season victory. The Jets scored three times in the third period to erase a three goal deficit and defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime. The Jets are now 1-2-2 in their first five exhibition contests. Mark Scheifele scored the game winning goal in overtime and both Scheifele and Andrew Ladd finished the night with one goal and one assist.
The Jets had the first good chance two minutes into the game, but Adam Lowry’s backhand was steered aside by Senators starting netminder Craig Anderson.
The line of Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Drew Stafford has been together throughout training camp and had a great opportunity in the first with Scheifele finding Wheeler for the one timer at the edge of the crease, but Anderson went post to post to keep it scoreless.
11 minutes into the game the Senators opened the scoring. Milan Michalek flying down the wing beat Ondrej Pavelec to the blocker side. Bobby Ryan had the only assist giving the Sens a 1-0 lead.
Late in the opening period, rookie Andrew Copp from behind the net sent a centring pass to Nic Petan, but he failed to connect. The Sens took a one goal lead to the dressing room with the shots 10 aside in the first.
The Jets had a 5-on-3 powerplay early in the 2nd period. Both Mathieu Perreault and Bryan Little had great chances but neither solved Anderson.
After killing off the penalties the Senators almost immediately extended the lead. With Michalek parked in front of the net, Zach Smith weaved into the slot and beat a screened Pavelec. Michalek and Matt Puempel drew the assists as Ottawa went ahead by two.
With seven minutes left in the period Curtis Lazar raced in on the clear cut breakaway but Pavelec slammed the 5-hole shut to keep the Jets down by only two.
But the Senators would persist and with 5:30 remaining in the period Jean-Gabriel Pageau would send in the backhand to give Ottawa a three goal lead. Ryan picked up another assist. The shots were 13-10 in favour of Winnipeg in the second.
Just 26 seconds into the final frame Andrew Ladd stepped into the circle and his shot was tipped in by Blake Wheeler parked in front of Andrew Hammond. Dustin Byfuglien picked up the other assist as the Jets made it 3-1. An even strength goal, coming just one second after the Senators penalty had expired.
With exactly five minutes left, first round draft pick Nikolaj Ehlers made a pretty play setting up Drew Stafford for his first goal of the pre-season. Scheifele grabbed the other assist on the Jets first powerplay goal of the pre-season.
Then as time wound down and the goalie pulled, Tyler Myers point shot was tipped in by Andrew Ladd to tie the game and send it to overtime. The tieing goal coming with just 52 seconds left on the clock.
In the extra frame, playing 3-on-3, Scheifele raced in on the odd man rush and fired it past Hammond to give the Jets their first pre-season win. The Jets out shot the Sens 29-25. Pavelec stopped 22 of 25 shots.
Thomas Raffl, J.C. Lipon, Anthony Peluso, Jacob Trouba, Adam Pardy, Jay Harrison and Connor Hellebuyck were all scratched.
The Jets continue their pre-season schedule on Thursday at home to the Calgary Flames.
For more information go to winnipegjets.com
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