PHILADELPHIA – With the Flyers in a dog fight for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Winnipeg Jets knew that they would be in for a tough battle Monday night. The Flyers let a two-goal lead slip away but ended up getting some help from the hockey gods and came away with a much-needed win in overtime by a 3-2 score.
Claude Giroux scored game-winner in OT over Jets – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
With the playoffs out of reach for the Jets they are now playing spoilers and playing for jobs and pride to finish out this season.
The Jets showed some grit battling back in the hostile confines of the Wells Fargo Center Monday to come away with a point.
“You get down by a couple quick goals to start the second, and Scheifele, that was a big goal for us, gives us some life,” Jets forward Adam Lowry said. “And then another great pass by him to Wheeler, [and] we’re right in this game.”
Ondrej Pavelec was in the pipes for Winnipeg and he stopped 29 of 32 Flyer shots.
The Jets dominated the physical play as they dished out forty hits and also had numerous quality scoring chances but missed the net on many great opportunities. They also had some help from the goal posts as the Flyers had four shots off the iron.
The Flyers got regulation goals from Mark Streit who got his sixth and Wayne Simmonds his 26th.
Claude Giroux his 22nd in overtime after a very nice bounce and play off the stick of Shayne Gostisbehere.
“I was going to change. I was pretty tired,” Giroux said. “I tried to get back because they had a 3-on-2 and they missed the net. I was able to get it and had a breakaway. Was pretty tired, I couldn’t make the pass. [Gostisbehere] did a good job of recovering the puck and I put it in. … I was in front of the net by myself. Tried to shoot it and it trickled in. I was too tired to celebrate, so I just put my arms in the air.”
Goal scorers for Winnipeg were Mark Scheifele his 25th and Blake Wheeler his 20th.
The line of Scheifele, Wheeler and Nik Ehlers continued their strong play as they generated numerous great chances off the rush with their speed.
The Jets will return home for their final three home games of the season and will look to finish up strong at home where they haven’t had much success this season.
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