In Winnipeg, the Jets dropped a 3-1 decision to the visiting Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
The Jets fell into a tie for the second wild card in the Western Conference with the Flames.
“It’s playoff hockey out there and we’re trying to make the playoffs,” said Flames forward Walker Duehr. “It was a big game here tonight, and to get that goal it was really important.”
Kyle Connor started the Jets off on the right foot with a goal in the first period and a 1-0 lead into the second period.
“[The intensity] was up there,” Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “I think there was a lot of stuff going on in the game. A lot of extracurriculars. Guys were fired up about the game. I think both sides were showing it. … It seemed like every time we’d get a big PK, then we’d go on the power play and then vice versa. Not a ton of flow to the game.”
Connor scored off the power play at 11:42.
“We would have preferred to play more 5-on-5,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “You take six penalties in a game like that, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. There’s no question about that. So, that’s what’s disappointing.”
That was it for Winnipeg as Andrew Mangiapane tied it in the middle frame, 1-1, and the Flames added two in the third for the win.
“We’re really close to these guys in the standings and we just tied it up there,” Mangiapane said. “We’ve been playing playoff hockey the past 30, 40 games now. We knew what kind of spot we’d be in here, so we’re pushing. We’ve got three games to make it.”
Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves in the Flames win.
“Still [mad] from the other night, and I think that fed into it coming into this game and a little bit more emotions than usual,” said Markstrom. “It was a great atmosphere and a big win, but we’ve got to keep going here.”
Calgary bounced back from a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
Duehr scored at 4:08 of the third to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
Winnipeg fell to 43-32-3.
“A loss is as loss, but like I said, we could be in a worse position,” Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois said. “We could be on the outside looking in. We could be the team that played one more game right now and is still tied. … We are obviously disappointed. Like, I’m not going to stand here and say that we are happy and thrilled, but we’re still in a good spot being on the inside. We just have to look forward to the next games here.”
Calgary’s Nikita Zadorov scored midway through the third for the 3-1 final.
“We’re not in it — yet,” Calgary coach Darryl Sutter said. “If we didn’t win tonight or if you lose in overtime or a shootout, that’s a big swing too, so all we did was close the gap.”
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Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves in the Jets loss.
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