In Winnipeg, the Jets trailed the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1, in the second period.
The Jets special teams kicked into gear when Pierre-Luc Dubois hit for a power play goal, on a refirect of a shot from Josh Morrissey to tie the game, 2-2, headed to the third.
“[Morrissey] is having a pretty spectacular year,” Connor said. “I don’t think anybody is surprised. We knew what he is capable of, and it seems like it is all coming together for him. I couldn’t be happier for him or more proud of him and how he has flourished this year.
“Even off the ice, he is a big leader for us. I think it is awesome that he is representing us [at the All-Star Game].”
In the third, Kyle Connor his for a second Jets power play marker for a3-2 lead.
“It’s a tough league,” Connor said. “A close game like that, everybody gets competitive and everybody wants to win. That’s what it comes down to.”
Winnipeg’s Morgan Banner then added a shorthanded strike late in the frame for a 4-2 count, and final score for the win.
Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves in the Jets win.
Winnipeg improved to 25-13-1.
“That was a great hockey game, right from the beginning to end,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “That’s a great hockey team over there, as you can see. They move the puck really, really well. … That was a [heck] of a hockey game. The fans got their money’s worth tonight.”
Tampa took a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening period on a goal from Anthony Cirelli.
The Lightning dropped to 24-13-1.
“It’s a complete lack of discipline, it was embarrassing what we did,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “How many 5-on-3s you’re up against in one season, you count on maybe one hand, and we give them two minute-and-a-half 5-on-3s in one game. Unacceptable. That shouldn’t happen. And good on Winnipeg.”
Dubois scored his first of two on the night with 39 second left in the first to tie it, 1-1.
“We knew it could be a one-goal game, a 1-0 game,” Dubois said. “It’s a good measuring stick for us … a big team win for us. The penalty kill did a fantastic job in killing all those penalties. This game we could look at it, and it could be a game we remember at the end of the season for us.”
Tampa took the advantage again, with a goal from Nikita Kucherov with 95 seconds gone in the middle frame.
“Penalties have been an issue for our team up and down the lineup,” Lightning defenseman Ian Cole said. “Just too many. I am certainly a part of that. I can be way better.
“Fact of the matter is, I think our PK has been really good the past little bit. I mean, maybe not the past couple games, but the past two months or so. But what it does is it takes our best players off the ice.”
Bannon’s goal came with 86 seconds left on the clock and was scored into an empty net.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 16 saves in the Tampa loss.
“That game could have been 0-0 and a shootout,” Cooper said. “[The Jets] stayed disciplined, just said, ‘Sit back and wait for Tampa to screw it up,’ and they did. And that’s what happened.”
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