In Winnipeg, Nikolaj Ehlers scored with 21 seconds gone in extra time on Friday night, to send the Jets to a 4-3 win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I like the five-hole,” Ehlers said. “I did a couple shoulder checks there. I just didn’t want to come in with too much speed, and that’s why I kind of let up there a little bit. That’s why I was checking to see where [the defenseman] was at.”
Columbus needed a goal from Oliver Bjorkstrand with 14 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, 3-3, and force the extra session.
Eric Comrie made 33 saves in the Winnipeg win.
Brendan Gaunce and Adam Boquist also scored for the Blue Jackets.
Columbus dropped to 32-30-3.
Dominic Toninato scored in the first period to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.
Kyle Connor‘s shorthanded goal pushed the Jets advantage to 2-0.
“I liked our response,” Winnipeg coach Dave Lowry said. “I thought that we played a real solid game. We had a purpose, and it showed.
“Eric gives us an opportunity, just like [starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck]. They give us an opportunity to win hockey games and that’s what the expectation is. You always like to see a guy who works as hard as Eric have success. I know that his teammates are extremely happy for him as well.”
Josh Morrissey put the Jets up, 3-2, after Columbus rallied to tie the game, 2-2.
“[Facing Laine is] scary, for sure,” Morrissey said. “When he gets a little time and space anywhere in the slot, you want to try to get there as fast as possible to take it away from him because we’ve always seen that for years. It’s always weird playing against former teammates for the first time, [Jack Roslovic] and ‘Patty’. But you definitely have to respect their ability and [Roslovic’s] speed and quickness and ‘Patty’s’ ability to score and beat you one-on-one.”
Columbus fell to 32-30-3.
“Our goal is to make sure we don’t quit, and tonight we did that,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “[Merzlikins] made some good saves. I think he’d like the third one back. As far as the [overtime breakaway], Ehlers is a pretty good player. You’d love to have a save there if you can, but again, it’s a breakaway. Generally, the shooters have the advantage, they have the puck, but he made some real key saves for us at key times.”
Bjorkstrand then tied the game in the final seconds of regulation.
“I liked the way that we committed to playing without the puck tonight,” Lowry said. “I like the way that we played 200 feet and I like the way that we managed the puck through the neutral zone.”
Elvis Merzlikins made 29 saves in the Blue Jackets loss.
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