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What just happened!?!? The Jets had no business hanging around this game as they gave up four straight goals to start the game. Four goal comebacks aren’t supposed to happen, but then again, it’s a new season and nobody knows what’s going on. The Jets didn’t know any better and managed to score four straight of their own as they tied it up in the third period. It ended up going to a shootout and the Jets pulled it out to complete the massive comeback.

First Period

The Jets started quickly on the back to back as Mathieu Perreault had a gorgeous chance in the opening minutes while on the powerplay. The Jets actually had multiple powerplays in the first period, but both of them lacked any dangerous chances as the Jets got set up, but couldn’t find any passing lanes.

The game was back and forth after that as both teams traded chances but nobody could find the back of the net. It took until the end of the period for New Jersey to score the first goal. It’s wasn’t pretty as the Jets coughed up the puck right in front of Brossoit and the Devils shoveled it in.

After having a fairly clean game yesterday, the Jets defense let them down on the first goal of this game.

Second Period

If you thought the first period was bad, the second got a whole lot worse. The Jets struggled to get any speed through the neutral zone while New Jersey easily made quick breakouts and easy zone entries. The second goal was similar to the first in the sense that Winnipeg’s defense served up another turnover right in front of Brossoit. There was obviously a massive communication breakdown with Pionk and Ehlers as nobody took the puck and it ended up behind Brossoit.

It didn’t take long for things to get worse as the Devils kept pouring it on. This time it was from a point shot that Brossoit caught a piece of. It wasn’t enough however as the puck bounced past him and into the open net.

I wish I could say that it ended after that, but that’s not what happened. Moments later, the Devils opened up the four goal lead with a beautiful one-handed chip past Brossoit. Kulikov got beat to the puck as he lost the footrace starting at center ice. Brossoit was more shocked than anything that Coleman was able to get such an incredible shot off while fighting Kulikov.

Just as things appeared hopeless, Dmitri Kulikov came through and redeemed himself. He blasted a shot from the point that went of the post and in. It was a beautiful shot in a game that didn’t have much going right before that.

Third Period

What do you do when you’re down in the game and need a comeback? Turn to the fourth line of course! While that usually isn’t the source of offense, the fourth line did the heavy lifting early in the period. Jack Roslovic scored his first of the year as he pounced on a long rebound and managed to get it past a sliding Schneider.

Apparently Schneider slid a bit too hard as he had to leave the game in discomfort. Blackwood came in, but he didn’t fare much better against the fourth line as Mathieu Perreault brought the Jets to within one goal as he found some open space in the slot.

With the momentum starting to swing in favour of Winnipeg, they put together a few decent shifts before the second line went to work. They had a phenomenal shift in the offensive end as they controlled the puck for nearly two minutes straight. They were able to start a line change while maintaining possession and Neal Pionk was the one who fired it home. It was a nice shot from the point that made its way through all the traffic and into the back of the net.

With the game tied in the dying seconds Wheeler nearly ended the game as he knocked the puck off the post from an absolutely wide open net. Just for good measure, he hit the post on his own rebound from the post. It was a bizarre sequence that nobody could believe didn’t go in the net.

Overtime

Not often do you see a full five minute overtime without anybody scoring. While that’s rare, it’s exactly what happened in this one as both teams had plenty of chances, but neither team was able to convert.

Shootout

An interesting shootout had both teams score on their first shot, before the next five shooters all missed. It was poetic justice that Wheeler had the game on his stick after hitting the post with seconds left in the third period. Wheeler made no mistake this time around as he made a beautiful move to the backhand and lifted it over Blackwood for the first victory of the year.

TL;DR Why the Jets Won

To be honest, I have no idea. The Jets didn’t play particularly well and they seemed to get out-chanced for most of the game. Brossoit made enough saves to keep them in it and the third period saw a massive comeback as the Jets scored four straight goals to tie the game.

Jetsnation Top Gun

There are a number of players who contributed towards the comeback, but Pionk takes the player of the game honours. Even though he contributed to the giveaway that led to the Devils scoring, he redeemed himself by tying up the game late in the third period. That goal completed the comeback during a great third period.

Boxscore

 

Next Up

It’s been a hectic start to the season for the Jets. The nice part is that they get to stay in the same area even though they have another two away games. They get Saturday off before taking on the Islanders on Sunday. Puck drop is at 7PM CST and you can watch the game on Sportsnet or listen on TSN 1290.