The Winnipeg Jets had not played a game since December 19 and it showed, especially in the first period, when Vegas dominated, scoring 2 goals and outshooting the Jets by a 22-10 margin. The VGK headed into the locker room with a 2-goal lead.

But the Jets found their flight plan and caught the VGK unexpectedly in a storm of turbulence, and in just 20 seconds they scored 2 goals on their first 2 shots of the 2nd period to tie the game. Then they scored another 2 goals for 4 unanswered goals in their 5-4 OT victory last night at T-Mobile.

History has a funny way of repeating itself and that was on full display last night. The last time the Winnipeg Jets played at T-Mobile was all the way back on Nov. 2, 2019. Nate Schmidt and Paul Stastny were key players for the VGK. In that game Nate Schmidt scored a goal in the first period to give the VGK a 2-goal lead after the first period. The VGK’s 3 first-period goals were scored on Winnipeg’s goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who ironically was in goal tonight for the VGK and Nate Schmidt and Paul Stastny were on the Winnipeg bench. Schmidt didn’t score for the Jets, but Paul Stastny did just 2:28 into the 3rd period to give the Jets their first lead at 3-2. Winnipeg added one more goal by Andrew Copp just 1:48 after Paul Stastny’s goal that put Vegas into additional turbulence. Down by 2 goals in the 3rd period with Conner Hellebuyck in the net is a tall task with just under 7 minutes left in the game.

But Mattias Janmark, who recently recovered from COVID and is starting to regain his speed and strength, scored with 6:23 left and with Laurent Brossoit on the bench for the extra skater, Shea Theodore’s slapshot from the left point was tipped by Nicolas Roy and the puck seemed to be headed wide until Janmark turned his skate just enough to send it back toward the front of the net and past Hellebuyck with just 8.1 seconds left on the clock to miraculously tie the score at 4-4, sending the 17,888 fans at T-Mobile into a frenzy.

The building was rocking and all the momentum seemed to be with the VGK, who somehow, without Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Robin Lehner, and Alec Martinez, have weathered the storm of injuries that never seems to end for this team.

The last game in 2019 needed more than 60 minutes to decide the winner. The overtime goal was scored by Kyle Conner 3:22 into the 5-minute overtime for the 4-3 Winnipeg win. Last night, Kyle Conner once again scored the winning goal 2:39 in overtime, causing T-Mobile to go silent and the frenzy and excitement that was created by the VGK 2 goal comeback was extinguished.

Was it a point lost or were they lucky to grab the extra Gary Bettman point? I’m going with they were lucky. But keep in mind, good teams find a way and Vegas found a way with a depleted lineup, which has been the case for their previous 34 games.

Game Notes and Quotes.

Connor Hellebuyck made a season-high 42 saves.

Nate Schmidt, who had a video tribute in the first period along with Paul Stastny, had three shots on goal.

It was Nate’s first game at T-Mobile since being traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 12, 2020. Schmidt scored 97 points (21 goals, 76 assists) in 196 games with the Golden Knights.

“You could see the rust in our first period,” Connor said. “We were lagging behind a little bit. I felt we did build throughout the game.”

“I think we could’ve had a couple more [goals],” Janmark said. “I think maybe [Hellebuyck] had a little puck luck and obviously played a good game. We want to bear down and score a few more on the chances we have in the future.”

Laurent Brossoit was playing in his fourth straight game in place of Robin Lehner who remains day to day with a lower -body injury. Brossoit has allowed 13 goals and has an .868 save percentage in that span.

My 3 Stars of the Game: Conner Hellebuyck (42 saves on 46 shots and kept the game from being a blowout), Mattias Janmark (2 3rd period goals that started the unexpected 2-goal comeback), Kyle Conner (overtime GWG)

Next game is tomorrow vs Nashville at T-Mobile 7 p.m.

Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane

For more VGK content check out the (Hockey Knights in Vegas) Podcast that can be found on YouTube.com or on my Facebook page

One other note: If you’re reading this blog from Facebook or Twitter and would like to access it earlier in the morning before I share it on social media, it’s usually published by 8 a.m. the morning after a game on LasVegasAdvisor.com. What better way is there to enjoy your morning coffee than reading my take on last night’s VGK game.

Janmark’s goal that tied the game with 8 seconds left
Janmark’s other 3rd period goal
Kyle Connor’s OT winning goal