Winnipeg Jets Overcome 2-0 deficit to beat Ottawa Senators 4-2 – Hockey Writers – Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets overcame a 2-0 deficit by scoring four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at the Canada Life Center on Saturday night.

Goals with 1:32 left in the third period by Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers proved to be the difference in a game that was tied 2-2 and could have gone either way to that point.

PPG used to PERFECTION 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/x0Wow69z4i

– Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 29, 2024

The Jets improved to 26-10-1 with the win and have now won three in a row. The Senators fell to 18-15-2 with the loss and have dropped two straight after enjoying a six-game winning streak.

Senators Bag Pair on Power Play

The contest was the first for both teams coming out of the break, but neither seemed to be suffering from a turkey hangover as they played at a great pace from the first puck drop.

The Senators opened the scoring midway through the first half on the power play. Tim Stutzle was left wide open near the net and easily scored on Drake Batherson's pass to Connor Hellebuyck.

The Senators also got paid dirt early in the second. In the first half of Vilardi's high-scoring double, Ridly Greig deflected from Thomas Chabot's point zone for a double lead.

The Jets First Line responds in pairs at Even Strength

The Jets passed Mads Sogaard, who was making his second start of the season, at 12:46 for a 2-1 win. Winnipeg's first line, which combined for 11 points in their previous game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 23, changed things up when Kyle Connor fired a shot between the hash marks after receiving a pass from Mark Scheifele behind the net. Scheifele's assist was huge as he successfully transferred the puck to himself off the end boards.

The chemistry of 81 and 55 must be studied at this point 😵‍💫🤭 pic.twitter.com/KhFJC1dHOk

– Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 29, 2024

With 2:15 left in the period, Scheifele scored a goal of his own, firing a backhander past Sogaard's short side on a breakaway layup. Ehlers' first assist, like Scheifele's, was a good one as he recorded it on Scheifele in the neutral zone.

Third Trade Opportunity Teams, Vilardi & Ehlers Go Back

The Senators produced a few good chances early in the third and got a power play in the fourth when Ville Heinola was sent off for tripping. However, the Jets killed it and their starting lineup continued to be a handful after that, pushing the Senators down on offense. Finally, Sogaard took his own child in during the chaos.

On the next power play, Vilardi, in his “office” in front of the net, made a one-timer past Ehlers to give the Jets their first lead of the night. Ehlers then scored a goal of his own when the Senators, looking sloppy on defense, allowed him to zip into the zone and fire past Sogaard.

The Senators pulled Sogaard with three minutes left in favor of an extra attacker, but couldn't find Hellebuyck again.

Notes & Observations

The Senators were without hot goalie Linus Ullmark, who did not travel with the team due to a back injury, and without backup goalie Anton Forsberg as well. Leevi Merilainen is on as a substitute.

The Jets went one for three on the power play, while the Senators went 2-4. Shots were 36-23 in favor of the Senators.

Connor's goal extended his scoring streak to six games. Ehlers averaged all three-pointers. None of the Senators had more points.

Related: Jets and Moose return from Holiday Break on different trajectories

During one stretch midway through the second with the Senators up 2-0, Josh Norris and Cole Perfetti both hit the post within seconds of each other.

Attendance was 14,734.

The Senators return to action tomorrow when they visit the Minnesota Wild for the second leg of a nine-game road trip that is separated by the holiday break (the 2025 World Junior Championship is currently taking place on their home field.) The Jets' next game is Monday, December 30 when they host the Nashville Predators at the Canada Life Center.