A complete team effort has the Winnipeg Jets surging amid the best start in franchise history.
Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club has come down to earth following its successful introduction.
The Jets will try on Tuesday night to win their fourth consecutive game and hand Utah its fifth straight road defeat.
Winnipeg rallied from an early 2-0 hole to post a wild 7-4 victory over visiting Tampa Bay on Sunday. It was the Jets’ 11th win in 12 games to start the season, seventh of the come-from-behind variety and marked the sixth time they’ve scored at least six goals.
“There was no panic in the group, and that shows that we have learned a lot over the last couple of years,” said Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who had a goal with an assist Sunday to become the NHL’s all-time leader among Danish players with 474 career points, passing Frans Nielsen (473 from 2006-21).
“We know that if we play the right way, and with our structure, we’re going to get our chances,” he said.
With 17 points this season, Ehlers is one of eight Jets with at least 10, and three more teammates have totaled nine. Kyle Connor added an assist to increase his team-leading point total to 19, extend his streak of recording at least one point in each game this season. Connor reportedly cleared concussion protocol after taking a hard hit late in Sunday’s contest.
The Jets have scored 29 goals while going 5-1-0 at home, where they are also 8 of 20 on the power play.
That likely does not bode well for Utah, which is 1-3-2 following that impressive 4-1-1 start to the franchise’s history. While Utah has earned four points in its last three games, it is amid an 0-2-2 road rut following Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss at Vegas.
It was Utah’s third consecutive road game decided by one goal, and second during that span that went to overtime.
“We’re still building,” Utah forward Logan Cooley, who scored his second goal of the season on Sunday, told NHL.com.
Utah led 2-0 against the Golden Knights but allowed three straight goals before Alex Kerfoot’s third-period score eventually led to overtime.
“We got better over three periods,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “I liked the way we finished the game. Unfortunately, we could not close the deal. But I like our progression.”
Cooley has two goals with two assists in the last four games. However, he’s been held without a point in four career contests versus Winnipeg — all coming last season. Teammate Clayton Keller, Utah’s leader with 12 points, has just four goals and two assists in 19 career games against the Jets.
Utah’s Connor Ingram has a 2.96 goals-against average in five home starts this season, but owns a 4.10 GAA in five on the road for 3.57 overall with an .881 save percentage. Backup Karel Vejmelka has yielded eight goals in two starts this season for a 3.04 GAA with an .889 save percentage.
Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves Sunday and is 8-1-0 with a 2.33 GAA and .917 save percentage this season. However, he’s allowed 12 goals in his last three home starts. Backup Eric Comrie, though, has a 2.67 goals-against average and .914 save percentage while winning all three of his 2024-25 starts.
