The Winnipeg Jets couldn't finish their comeback on Tuesday night. They rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the third period but lost to the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime, extending their losing streak to four games.
Winnipeg started the game strongly, creating several good scoring chances. However, they couldn't score against Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner. The Jets also had a power play early in the game, but they couldn't take advantage of it.
Sean Monahan had the best chance to score in the first period, but his shot hit the crossbar and the post. The score was still tied at zero after the first 20 minutes, with Winnipeg outshooting the Oilers 13-10.
Winnipeg scored first 4:43 into the second period. Kyle Connor's shot was deflected by Adam Lowry, and Mason Appleton scored on the rebound, giving him his 14th goal of the season.
Edmonton tried hard to equalize. Evander Kane, the former Jet who is still booed in Winnipeg, had a breakaway in the second period but was stopped by Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck also saved the rebound attempt.
Just after Nino Niederreiter came close to making it 2-0 for Winnipeg, the Oilers scored their first goal.
Connor McDavid brought the puck into the Winnipeg end and drew a lot of attention. He passed the puck to Warren Foegele, who then found Leon Draisaitl in the slot. Draisaitl scored, tying the game at 1-1 at 11:46.
Less than two minutes later, Edmonton took the lead for the first time in the game. Mattias Ekholm brought the puck into the Winnipeg end and passed to Connor Brown in the slot. Brown scored with a high shot over Hellebuyck's glove, making it 2-1 and getting his third goal of the season.
Winnipeg had a great opportunity to tie the game less than a minute later when Brown was given a high-sticking double minor penalty. However, the Jets couldn't get a shot on goal during the entire four-minute power play, leading to boos from the crowd.
With one minute left in the period, the Jets were penalized for having too many players on the ice, giving the Oilers a power play. The Oilers didn't score before the period ended, but it was a period dominated by the visitors as they outshot the Jets 17-4 and completely controlled the game after Appleton’s goal.
After the Jets successfully killed the remainder of the penalty at the start of the third period, both teams played four-on-four before Nikolaj Ehlers was penalized for high-sticking.
Edmonton quickly took advantage of the opportunity. McDavid carried the puck into the Jets’ end and passed to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who scored, making it 3-1.
Winnipeg killed the remaining penalty and started to push back. An agitated Ehlers delivered several big hits as the Jets kept Edmonton pinned in their own end. Soon after, Brenden Dillon scored from the point, beating a screened Skinner and bringing the score to 3-2 with 10:21 remaining.
Just one minute later, the game was tied when Monahan redirected an Ehlers shot past Skinner, causing the crowd to go wild.
With 2:06 left, Nugent-Hopkins got a minor penalty for high-sticking. Officials thought he hit Lowry high, but replays showed it was actually DeMelo’s stick that caught the captain, making Edmonton rightfully angry on the bench. Despite this, the call gave Winnipeg’s power play a chance to score, but they couldn't, and the game went to overtime.
After Connor lost the puck in the Edmonton end, Nugent-Hopkins quickly moved it the other way. Zach Hyman, who had just come off the bench, received a pass from Nugent-Hopkins and went straight to the net. His first shot was saved, but he scored off the rebound for his 51st goal of the season and the game winner.
Hellebuyck suffered the loss despite making 38 saves, while Skinner stopped 22 shots for the win.
The Jets will try to end their losing streak Thursday night as they face the Vegas Golden Knights. The pregame show starts at 5 p.m. on 680 CJOB, and the game begins just after 7 p.m.
