In Winnipeg, Mark Scheifele struck for the Jets with 42 seconds left in overtime to give them a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lighting.
The loss snapped an eight-game win streak for the Bolts.
“We got our chances and it wasn’t always pretty, but we kept on grinding and grinding and sometimes you need those in games like that,” Scheifele said.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice and Mathieu Perreault and Brandon Tanevadded single markers for the Jets in regulation.
Winnipeg improved to 22-9-2.
Connor Hellebuyck made 42 saves to get the win.
“They were the story because if either was a half-step off, you’re losing that game. So I think that Connor [Hellebuyck] had more traffic, smaller-area tip plays that he would have been very difficult to get a handle on to make that a clean game,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said of Hellebuyck. “I thought he had a little more chaos. And we got some pretty good seam shots that [Vasilevskiy] got over on and made some pretty good saves, too. There was a number of those really high-end chances.”
Steven Stamkos, Alex Killorn, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherovscored for the Lightning.
“We’ve got to be quick and assertive when you got the puck on your stick and anticipate your next play,” Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We used our speed against them, and they did it to us too.”
Tampa dropped to 25-7-2.
“I think it was an entertaining game for fans,” Killorn said. “I know a lot of people were probably watching just because of where we stand in the East and where they stand in the West. I thought it was an entertaining game. Obviously, a lot of goals being scored. We don’t want to allow that many, but it was a good game.”
[WATCH: All Lightning vs. Jets highlights]
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 37 saves in the loss.
“In the end,” McDonagh said, “it’s a stinging feeling for sure when you have a lead like that late on the road and can’t find a way to close it out.”
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