WINNIPEG — Despite playing a whole lot better the Winnipeg Jets still couldn’t catch a break as they were dealt a sixth straight loss on home ice. The New York Islanders tied the game with 29 seconds remaining and then scored the winner in overtime for a 4-3 victory.
The puck on the winning goal hit Nikolaj Ehlers right smack in the face before Kyle Okposo tucked it in to give the Islanders the extra point.
“It’s a highly unusual play that ends it.” head coach Paul Maurice said. “Liked our third, I thought the second slowed down again a bit, but we were in the box for six (minutes) and that’s part of it.”
The Jets were poised to end their losing streak on home ice after Mark Scheifele’s second goal of the game with just two minutes left gave the Jets the lead.
“It sucks.” said Scheifele. “We battled our hearts out and you know, it sucks when you don’t get the result. You know the biggest key for us right now is that we can’t get down on ourselves. It sucks, you know, that’s hockey.”
Okposo, Calvin de Haan, Shane Prince and Anders Lee found the net for the Islanders. Thomas Greiss made 26 saves.
Tyler Myers scored the other Jets marker. Mathieu Perreault had two assists while Michael Hutchinson stopped 23 of 27 shots.
“It’s a frustrating loss.” Hutchinson said. “To have the lead that close to the end and for them to score in overtime. For a goal to go in like that, you know, it’s unfortunate.”
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St. Malo product Travis Hamonic had the best chance in the early going. Hutchinson kicked out the John Tavares shot right to Hamonic. He had the wide open net but Hutchinson made a fine toe save to keep it scoreless.
With 3:47 left in the first Dustin Byfuglien’s point shot was knocked down in front of the net. Perreault dished it to Scheifele who had a gaping net for the goal. His 16th of the season set a new career high. Perreault’s 26th assist of the season is also a new career best.
The Jets carried the play in the opening period badly outshooting the Isles 15-6.
New York got on even terms six minutes into the middle frame. Calvin De Haan’s shot handcuffed Hutchinson and the puck trickled in to tie the game at one. Hamonic and Lee garnered the assists.
The momentum shifted in the second as the Islanders outshot the Jets 10-5.
The Islanders took their first lead midway through the final frame. Okposo flipped it into the zone and Prince caught Byfuglien flat footed, skated right in and fired it past Hutchinson for the go ahead goal.
But just 84 seconds later Alex Burmistrov spotted a pinching Myers in the slot. Myer’s sniped his seventh goal of the season. It was also assisted by Drew Stafford and the game was all knotted up at two apiece.
With just 2:03 left in regulation time Wheeler found Scheifele and he roofed the puck on Greiss. Initially there seemed to be some confusion if the puck actually went in. But it clearly hit the back bar and bounced back out. Perreault also had an assist on Scheifele’s second goal of the game and 17th of the season.
The Islanders would tie it up with the goalie pulled. With just 29 seconds left on the clock Nick Leddy’s slapper was tipped in by Lee for his 11th of the season to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period Frans Nielsen’s shot hit Ehlers in the face and the puck bounced right to Okposo. He made the deposit and his 16th goal of the campaign gave the Isles the OT victory.
“Bad breaks.” Perreault said. “We can’t get down on ourselves. We got to keep our head up cause we’re not playing bad at all.”
Ehlers was left bleeding after the overtime winner but shouldn’t miss any time.
” I think Nik is going to be fine.” said Maurice.
Anthony Peluso though might be a different story. He left the game in the first period and did not return.
“Not optimistic.” Maurice said.
With one assist Byfuglien extended his point streak to seven games. It was Byfuglien’s 400th game with the Jets/Thrashers organization.
Matt Halischuk was scratched. The Jets continue their five game homestand on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
WATCH: The Jets discuss a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday
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