*Photo from The Athletic*
The Motto "Stay in the fight" has become sort of a theme around the Winnipeg Jets these last few seasons. Tuesday night's game was a perfect example of that motto paying off. Nikolaj Ehlers scored the OT winner, Laurent Brossoit stopped 38 shots, and the Jets rallied past the Ottawa Senators with a 4-3 overtime win after trailing 3-1 earlier in the game.
Josh Norris got the Senators on the board first 4:41 into the first period, scoring his first NHL goal. Chris Tierney then made it 2-0 Sens at 10:31 of the first. At 18:09 in the first, Adam Lowry got the Jets on the board to make it a 2-1 Ottawa lead. At 11:47 of the second, Alex Galchenyuk scored on the power play for Ottawa to make it 3-1. Kyle Connor also scored on the power play for the Jets to make it 3-2. With 1:17 left in the 3rd, Blake Wheeler tied it a 3-3, leading to the OT winner by Ehlers about halfway in.
Jets coach Paul Maurice discussed how a comeback win affects the general confidence of the team, saying that "The late comeback wins have a really nice impact on your team. You carry those for a number of games. You always feel you have a chance. That's the most important piece for any team. The score on the clock doesn't dictate your effort level or compete level. Maybe more important than all of it, your belief. That's the foundation that's most important to our team."
Wheeler, the Jets captain, discussed the game against Ottawa versus how they played their last game against Toronto, saying that "We watched some video this morning and it wasn't the way we wanted to play the game. It didn't fit into the culture we've established here in Winnipeg. Just some of the nuances - staying connected on the ice, helping each other out, giving each other easy outs - just little things that make things easier for everyone. We were much better in that area tonight."
Senators head coach DJ Smith discussed the poor team defense, saying that "We were racing around trying to score rather than defending. That's a learning lesson for tonight. We lose a point and give a valuable point to them. You've got to close out games like that."
These two teams will square off again Thursday, with Matt Murray expected to start for Ottawa, with Connor Hellebuyck going for Winnipeg.
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