WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets just have to be happy their season series with the Chicago Blackhawks is finally over. The Hawks defeated the Jets 5-4 in overtime on Friday at MTS Centre. Brent Seabrook ending the game just a minute into the overtime period to end a thrilling back and forth game.
“It was definitely a roller coaster.” said Mark Scheifele.
“We score, they score. They score, we score. It’s a back and forth game. We both had our chances. It sucks being on the bad side of it again.”
The Hawks won the final four meetings of the season to gain eight of a possible 10 points off the Jets in their five games versus each other this season.
“There’s lots of good in that game.” head coach Paul Maurice said.
“There’s lots that you just shake your head at but that’s true for both teams after that one.”
Artemi Panarin led the charge for Chicago with two goals and two assists. Patrick Kane had a goal and a helper while Seabrook and Brandon Mashinter also found the net in the Hawks win.
“Couple turnovers that let them back in the game there but I think we hung in there.” Nic Petan said. “And OT was just a back and forth 2-on-1 battle and they capitalized.”
The Jets top line continues to shine as they accounted for three of the Jets four goals. Blake Wheeler had two goals and an assist to extend his point streak to seven games. Wheeler also set a new career high for points in a season with 72.
“You want to contribute to wins.” said Wheeler. “You know what I’m saying. It’s kind of an empty feeling.”
“I’m not really too proud of myself or anything like that. But at some point after the season I’ll look back on it and be proud of the work I put in.”
Nic Petan and Dustin Byfuglien scored the other Jets goals. They actually out shot the Hawks 32-27.
Former Jets captain Andrew Ladd was held without a point and was a minus-1 in his second game back in Winnipeg since getting traded.
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After a strong start to the game the Jets opened the scoring at the 8:36 mark. In a traffic jam of bodies, Petan was denied on his first attempt but poked in the loose puck underneath Scott Darling. They reviewed the goal to see if there was a kicking motion but the goal was allowed to stand. Petan’s second career NHL goal was assisted by Andrew Copp and Joel Armia.
The Hawks clicked on the powerplay with under six minutes remaining in the first period. Kane sent the puck cross ice to Panarin and he fired the shot behind Pavelec. Artem Anisimov also drew an assist.
Before the end of the first, Armia attempted to chip the puck out of the zone but just missed the puck. Teuvo Teravainen hammered the one-timer and Mashinter tipped it past Pavelec. Paul Maurice used a coaches challenge, arguing their was goalie interference. But the goal stood upon review and it was 2-1 for Chicago after one period. The Jets led in the shot department 13-9.
Midway through the second period, Armia squeezed a shot past Darling but it didn’t cross the goal line and it remained a one goal Hawks lead.
Just minutes later though, Byfuglien carried into the Hawks zone and gave it to Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers found Wheeler and he sent the backhand into the goal. The play was challenged by Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, but for the third time in the game the goal withstood a review. It was 2-2.
With just 2:38 to go in the middle frame, Kane came flying into the Jets zone. From the top of the circle Kane sent a laser beam behind Pavelec for his 40th goal of the season. The Hawks had a 3-2 lead through two periods despite a 25-16 advantage in shots for Winnipeg.
Four minutes into the final period Teravainen fired a shot behind Pavelec. It was ruled a goal on the ice but quickly overturned on replay as the puck clearly hit the goal post.
Soon after the Jets raced in on an odd man rush. Mark Scheifele left it for Wheeler, who spotted Byfuglien and he picked the top corner. A pretty passing play for Buff’s 18th goal of the season and the game was tied at three.
The Jets top line connected for the third time in the game with just over eight minutes to go. Scheifele fired the initial shot wide. Byfuglien pounced on the loose puck sending the pass in front to Wheeler who buried it for his second goal of the game and 22nd of the season. The Jets suddenly had the lead.
But it wouldn’t last for long. With 4:45 left in regulation Marcus Kruger made the centring passing to Panarin and he bulged the mesh before giving the fist pump. It was his second goal of the contest and 27th of the season. It was 4-4.
Both teams had chances to win it in a back and forth 3-on-3 overtime period. But on a 2-on-1, it was Panarin passing it over to Seabrook who lifted it in for the game winning goal.
The Blackhawks were without Duncan Keith who was serving the first game of his six game suspension.
Newcomer Brandon Tanev was the Jets only healthy scratch after he signed with the team on Wednesday.
The Jets close out their home schedule on Sunday against the Minnesota Wild.
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