Ryan O’Hara

RyanOHara@THNN

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Seven-time award-winning sportswriter based in Denver.

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Mammoth Strike Twice In 26 Seconds, Hold Off Jets In 5-3 Win

The Utah Mammoth seized control early in the third period and never fully relinquished it, riding a quick-strike burst to a 5–3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. A pair of goals just 26 seconds apart broke the game open and pushed Utah ahead 4–1, creating just enough separation to withstand a late push from Winnipeg. Despite the loss, the Jets showed flashes of offensive rhythm, with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each recording a goal and an assist, while Gabe Vilardi contributed two helpers. Isak Rosén added the other tally as Winnipeg closed out its road schedule with a 16-19-6 record. The Jets will finish their season Thursday night on home ice against the San Jose Sharks. Comrie Stands Tall Under Pressure If not for Eric Comrie, the game might have been out of reach long before the third period. The veteran netminder, who entered the night riding a six-game winning streak dating back to early January, was under siege for much of the first 40 minutes. Utah dictated play, outshooting Winnipeg 29–11 through two periods and generating a significant edge in high-danger chances. Comrie turned aside 31 shots in total, delivering a composed and technically sound performance that kept Winnipeg within striking distance. Still, the dam eventually broke in the third, snapping both his winning streak and his run of .900-plus save percentage performances. Jets Show Life, But Come Up Short Winnipeg’s push came in waves, even as the game tilted against them. Trailing 2–0 late in the second, the Jets capitalized on the power play to claw back into the contest. A slick passing sequence from Scheifele to Vilardi set up Connor in stride, and after an initial stop, Connor buried the rebound for his 39th goal of the season—bringing him within one of the 40-goal mark for the second straight year. The Jets carried that momentum into the third. After Utah extended its lead, a fortunate break gave Scheifele a chance to respond. A miscue at the blue line allowed him to break in alone, and he made no mistake, cutting the deficit to 4–2 with a confident finish. Winnipeg refused to fade. Moments later, Rosén jumped on a loose puck off a face-off and wired a quick wrist shot past Karel Vejmelka to bring the Jets within one. It was a determined response from a team with little left to play for in the standings but plenty of pride on the line. In the end, Utah’s earlier surge proved decisive, but Winnipeg’s late effort underscored a resilience that carried through the final stretch of their season—even if the result didn’t follow.4mo

Winnipeg Jets

Jets Edge Blues, Stay Within Reach of Wild Card Spot

Mark Scheifele continued to drive the offense with a pair of assists as the Winnipeg Jets edged the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Thursday night at Enterprise Center, holding on late to secure a crucial road win. Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, and Jonathan Toews provided the scoring for Winnipeg (35-31-12), which has quietly found momentum at the right time, winning three straight and seven of its last nine. Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 20 shots, steady as ever when the game tightened in the final minutes. Despite the win, the Jets remain three points back of the Los Angeles Kings for the second Western Conference wild card spot after Los Angeles handled Vancouver earlier in the night. Jets Find Timely Offense, Hold Firm Late St. Louis (33-33-12) struck first, with Dylan Holloway finishing off a slick power play sequence less than five minutes into the game. A creative, between-the-legs feed from Robert Thomas set up Holloway for a quick-release shot that beat Hellebuyck to the short side. Winnipeg responded before the period was out, as Iafallo capitalized from the low slot after Scheifele worked the puck out from below the goal line, tying the game midway through the opening frame. The Blues nearly regained the lead late in the first when Holloway danced around Hellebuyck and attempted to tuck in his second of the night, but Morrissey made a heads-up, last-second goal-line stop to keep the game even. That moment proved pivotal. Morrissey gave Winnipeg its first lead early in the second period, jumping on a rebound in the slot after Jordan Binnington denied a point shot. Just over a minute later, Toews extended the advantage to 3-1, finishing a well-worked play from Cole Perfetti with a one-timer from the right circle. St. Louis pushed back in the third. Colton Parayko cut the deficit to one with a clean rush chance, wiring a shot past Hellebuyck from the right side. The Blues generated several quality looks down the stretch but couldn’t solve the Jets goaltender again. Winnipeg’s penalty kill sealed the result in the final minutes, shutting the door after a late high-sticking call and withstanding pressure during a six-on-five situation after Binnington was pulled. The loss leaves the Blues seven points behind Los Angeles in the playoff race, while the Jets continue to apply pressure with the postseason within reach. Scheifele’s recent surge continues to fuel Winnipeg’s push, as he inches closer to his first career 100-point season.4mo

Winnipeg Jets