Jets set franchise record with ninth consecutive victory in shootout ...

Breadcrumb Trail Links

1. Sports
2. Hockey
3. NHL
4. Winnipeg Jets

"No, you know, it's an awesome accomplishment," Arniel told CJOB "I do not want to take it away from the players.”

Published Feb 22, 2025  •  3 minute read

Article content

The Winnipeg Jets set a record in a 4-3 shootout win over the Blues in St. Louis on Saturday night.  The contemporary Jets club set a franchise mark with their ninth consecutive win. Their most recent loss was a 5-2 setback to the Utah Hockey Club on Jan. 20.   

Article content

Article content

Article content

“You’re not going to like my answer, let’s just worry about the next game,” head coach Scott Arniel told CJOB after the game. “One at a time. No, you know, it’s an awesome accomplishment. I do not want to take it away from the players.” 

“We had eight (game winning streak) a couple of times this year and it’s different and awkward I guess,” Kyle Connor added. “You win eight straight and then there’s a break, so it doesn’t really feel like you’re rolling.” 

Connor scored the winner in the shootout, zipping the puck over the right shoulder of Blues netminder Joel Hofer in the second round. The Blues had a chance to tie the game with their third chance, but Brayden Schenn’s shot hit the goal stick of Eric Comrie and bounced off the right post.   

Article content

Article content

“I was coming down and I always like to check out how the goalie is playing it, whether he’s back or coming out and taking away the angle,” Connor said. “It seemed like he was playing a little deep and I just kind of took what was there. I saw a spot and tried to react really quick and shoot that.” 

The previous time the Jets played in a shootout was against the Montreal Canadiens in October of 2023. 

With Neal Pionk in the penalty box for two holding minors at 15:32 of the third period, Pavel Buchnevich gave the Blues a 3-2 lead with a power-play goal at 17:10 as his shot from the top of the left faceoff circle beat Comrie to the blocker side for his 12th goal of the season.   

On the second minor to Pionk, the Jets tied the game with a short-handed goal at 19:32 with Comrie on the bench. Gabe Vilardi tipped a Connor point shot beyond the glove hand of Hofer. The goal was Vilardi’s second of the game and 26th of the season.   

Article content

“We worked on some six-on-five on Friday, kind of for this reason, but didn’t think it was going to come,” Arniel said. “Have to come in that quick, but great play by the guys to get up the ice fast, and then obviously Gabe getting to the net.” 

The Jets improved to 31-0-1 when leading after 40 minutes. 

Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for the Jets (40-14-3).

Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morrissey were scratched. On Saturday the Jets activated forward Adam Lowry from the injured reserve list. The Jets captain missed eight games with an undisclosed upper body he picked up on Jan. 20 against Utah. Winnipeg was blanked on two power-play opportunities.  

After a seven-game losing streak, Comrie (6-7-1). has now won three in row. The Edmonton resident stopped three shots in the shootout and 21 for the game.   

Article content

“We’ve said before that we haven’t been giving him run support, but the last three games, he’s been good and we’ve scored goals for him,” Arniel said. “So tonight, I was really happy to see, after that performance, that we got him a win.” 

 Robert Thomas scored twice for the Blues (25-26-6). Thomas reached the 100-goal plateau with his first-period marker.  Hofer (10-7-2) stopped 25 of 28 shots, losing his fourth consecutive game. Blues starting netminder Jordan Binnington was scratched.    The Jets host the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Puck drop is 6:30 p.m.  The Jets opened the scoring at 4:58 of the first period when Ehlers beat Hofer over the left shoulder for his 18th of the season, converting on the back half of a two-on-one with Cole Perfetti.  Perfetti extended his point game streak to six games, picking up the primary assist on the goal.  

Article content

The Blues tied the game at 15:34 as Thomas beat Comrie over the right shoulder with a shot from inside the left face-off circle. The goal was his 14th of the season. The marker extended Thomas’s point streak to five games.    The Jets regained their lead at 11:01 of the second period when Vilardi redirected a Mark Scheifele pass between the legs of Hofer for his 25th goal of the season.   

Vilardi drove the net front and out-muscled Kyle Tucker and Ryan Suter before redirecting the pass into the back of the net.  

St. Louis tied the game 16 seconds into the third period when Thomas beat Comrie to the left post on a wraparound for his 15th goal of the season.  

Article content

Share this article in your social network