WINNIPEG - Nikolaj Ehlers went from hero to goat in about 3 minutes last night as the Winnipeg Jets were defeated 5-4 in overtime by the Colorado Avalanche on home ice.
Ehlers sent the game to OT with the game tying goal with 15.6 seconds left in regulation with Connor Hellebuyck on the bench for the extra attacker. He then took an untimely slashing penalty on Nathan MacKinnon in the extra frame, putting the Avs on the power play which they cashed in on with Cale Makar’s goal at 2:42.
The Jets had a 2-1 lead after the first period on the strength of goals by Ehlers and Mark Scheifele. The Avs owned the second period with 2 goals and struck early in the third to take a 4-2 lead. Scheifele scored his second of the night at 16:25 and the momentum completely shifted, leading to Ehlers game tying goal. The Jets did earn the loser point with the overtime loss.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Andre Burakovsky, Erik Johnson and Nate MacKinnon also scored for Colorado. Ehlers and Scheifele each had a 3 point night and Josh Morrissey was sensational on the blue line and earned an assist and thwarted a couple of the Avs chances with Hellebuyck on the bench. The Jets outshot the Avalanche 43-37 with Hellebuyck making 32 saves, while the Avs Pavel Francouz stopped 39 Jets shots for the win.
Winnipeg has now lost their last four straight games and face the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night in the Nation’s Capital. Puck drop is 6:30pm (TSN3, 680 CJOB/Power 97).
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