The Winnipeg Jets came out on top in the battle of the NHL’s two conference-leading teams Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre, winning 3-2 in overtime over the Washington Capitals.
Nikolaj Ehlers played the overtime hero, taking a carom pass from Dylan Samberg and rifling a shot past Logan Thompson on a rush 1:28 into the extra frame to give his team the extra point. The win pushed the Jets’ record to 49-19-4 and upped their lead in the Western Conference to eight points over the Dallas Stars.
The Jets entered overtime having clinched a postseason berth by virtue of getting at least a point. They are the second team to clinch after the Capitals and the first in the Western Conference.
The Capitals fell to 47-15-9 with the loss but still sit one point up on the Jets in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Game Recap
The Jets opened the scoring at 6:50 of the first period when Josh Morrissey’s point shot deflected off Martin Fehervary and past Thompson.
The Capitals tied it in the final minute of the frame when Andrew Mangiapane picked the top corner on Connor Hellebuyck to finish off a three-on-two rush.
It appeared the second period would go by scoreless, but Mason Appleton snagged the second last-minute goal of the game when he ripped a top-corner tally of his own past Thompson’s glove with just 12 seconds left. Appleton was the beneficiary of a precise cross-ice pass from Nino Niederreiter.
The Jets remained in the lead until exactly four minutes remaining in the third, when Alexander Ovechkin rifled a puck in to tie the proceedings.
The game went to overtime, paving the way for Ehlers’ snipe after the Capitals had controlled the puck for most of overtime.
Notes & Observations
Ovechkin’s goal was the 889th of his career and he is now just six from passing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time NHL record.
It was the second-straight game the Jets beat the Capitals in overtime as they also did that on Feb. 1 in Washington, 5-4.
The Jets had new-look forward line combinations due to Gabriel Vilardi’s week-to-week injury.
Both teams went zero for two on the power play. The shots were 29-25 in favour of the Capitals.
The Capitals are back in action Thursday in the second game of their quick two-game road trip in Minnesota against the Wild. The Jets will continue their four-game homestand Friday when they welcome the New Jersey Devils to Canada Life Centre