WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets continued their six-game homestand after five days off of just practice with a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, last year’s Stanley Cup Finalists. The Lightning are one of the top teams in the East sitting third in the East. The Lightning came away from MTS Centre with a 4-3 overtime win.
The Jets will think back and think how did they not get two points out of this game. This was a back and forth affair as the Jets outplayed Tampa in the First period and dominated the third while falling on their heels a bit in the second.
Both goalies played exceptional as Ben Bishop got the win stopping 33 shots and got some help from the iron on a couple of occasions.
Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec stopped 27 shots and was at his mercy on the overtime goal as it was a filthy passing play between Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman setting up Ondrej Palat.
Tampa got its goals from Braydon Coburn his first, Cedric Paquette his first , Vladislav Namestnikov his third and Palat his third .
The Jets got goals from Nik Ehlers his second, Drew Stafford his third, Blake Wheeler his 4th a shorthanded marker.
The Jets had some bad luck as Ehlers who was dangerous almost all night with his blazing speed hit a couple of posts including one off a breakaway in the dying seconds of regulation time. Bryan Little couldn’t convert another breakaway in the popular 3 on 3 OT format. Right after the missed shot the Lightning came down 3 on 1 and scored a beauty.
The refs in this game let the boys play and settle things the right way as they only handed out 3 total penalties.
This game had its moments as both teams were aggressive after whistles but there was no dust ups as a result. There were some big hits being dished out especially by the Jets who love to play a physical game.
The Jets will face the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon in what is expected to be a great division rival game.
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