Brett Howden's Third Period Goal Powers Vegas Golden Knights to 4-3 Win over Winnipeg Jets – Hockey Writers – Winnipeg Jets

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on Friday night at T-Mobile Arena in an entertaining, back-and-forth game.

Brett Howden's goal at 15:55 of the third period off a William Karlsson handball was the difference. It broke the tie at 3-3 and helped the Golden Knights reach 16-5-3. The Jets dropped to 18-6-0 and have now lost five of their last eight after their historic start.

Jets Open Scoring; The Golden Knights Answered Two Late in the First

Cole Perfetti opened the scoring at 6:57 of the first and snapped his 11-game scoring drought by deflecting Josh Morrissey's shot past Adin Hill. However, the Golden Knights scored two goals late in the frame to take a 2-1 lead in the first half.

First, Howden, who recently signed a five-year contract extension, was beaten by Logan Stanley in the neutral zone after a transition by Morgan Barron and cut to a backhand while alone to score on Eric Comrie at 18:13. With 15 seconds left, Ivan Barbishev scored on a rebound off a Pavel Dorofeyev shot.

Brett Howden ties his career high with his ninth goal of the season! ⚔️

And what a great goal it was! #NHLStats: pic.twitter.com/ntvgMjYgnS

— NHL (@NHL) November 30, 2024

Jets Lose Ehlers to Second Injury, Perfetti Scores Again

Nikolaj Ehlers injured his ankle or foot early in the second while checking Dorofeyev on the boards. He came out to the Jets game, but left the field sick and frustrated when the Jets had the puck. He didn't come back.

The Jets tied the game at 2-2 at 14:30 when Perfetti scored his second of the game, deflecting Morrissey's shot to end a three-for-two chase.

Teams Trade Again, Howden Plays Hero

The Golden Knights regained the lead at 4:43 of the third when Barbishev passed Jack Eichel in the slot and put it home for his second of the game. The Jets tied the game again at 8:55 when Neal Pionk put in a shot from the point in heavy traffic.

After Howden's goal that made it 4-3, the Jets had the power to play Comrie and made it six out of four for a while, but although there was good pressure, he couldn't get the equalizing goal.

Notes & Observations

The Jets have now lost eight straight games to the Golden Knights dating back to the 2023 playoffs.

Defenseman Dylan Coghlan made his Jets debut after being healthy in 21 straight games. Fellow defenseman Stanley returned to the lineup after missing eight games due to injury.

The game featured two of the NHL's best power plays (Jets first and Golden Knights second.) However, neither team could convert, as the Jets went zero for three and the Golden Knights went zero for two.

Shots were 30-25 in favor of the Golden Knights.

Howden, with his two goals, reached a new career high with 10.

The game was the first of five for the Jets that the result was not clear 4-1.

The Golden Knights are back in action tomorrow, Nov. 30 as they welcome the Utah Hockey Club to Sin City in the second game of their three-game homestand. The Jets are back in action on Sunday, December 1 as they take on the Dallas Stars in the final game of their six-game regular season road trip.