The Winnipeg Jets recovered from blowing a three-goal lead to edge the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 Monday night at Rogers Place.
Jets forward Mark Scheifele extended his point streak to seven games when he scored a power-play goal 6:30 into the game. Alex Chiasson replied with his first of the season for the Oilers, but just 1:47 later, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor picked the top corner on Oilers netminder Mike Smith to make it 2-1 Jets.
Winnipeg’s Mason Appleton and Nik Ehlers scored early in the second to stretch it to 4-1. Smith was replaced in goal by Mikko Koskinen after allowing four goals on eleven shots.
“Everybody’s trying hard but sometimes it’s just not going your way that night, so you try to change it up and change the momentum of the game,” Oilers coach Dave Tippett said after the game.
The Oilers rallied with a power-play goal from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and a tip-in by Kailer Yamamoto before Mathieu Perreault replied for Winnipeg. Chiasson roofed his second of the night to cap a wild second period.
“We had lots of opportunities in the first couple of periods and didn’t capitalize, and it seemed like we would make a mistake and it would end up in our net. That’s the way it goes some nights,” Tippett said.
Nugent-Hopkins tied it 5-5 early in the third. Blake Wheeler restored the Jets’ lead on a deflection with 13:38 left. The Oilers pulled Koskinen for an extra attacker with 1:51 to go but couldn’t find the tying goal.
“It’s a different game when there’s 10 minutes left and they’re up one. We’re kind of just scrambling, trying to get something happening,” Chiasson said. “Playing that way is not a recipe for success in this league. Players are too good. Guys defend too well.”
“You’re not going to win many games when you give up six, so that’s got to be our focus,” Oilers defenceman Tyson Barrie said.
“We want to be a fun team to watch and score some goals, but we’ve got to be able to lock it down.”
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves for the win.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid had two assists and now has 499 career points.
The two teams will play again Wednesday night.
–With files from 630 CHED’s Brenden Escott
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