Jets Fall to Bedard, Blackhawks in Overtime

The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to 20-9-4 following a 2-1 overtime loss to Chicago on Wednesday.

Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks took care of business in their first game back from the Christmas break on Wednesday. Scoring twice for the hosts, including the overtime winner, Bedard picked up goals No. 14 and 15 on the season, as the Jets fell to 20-9-4 with the 2-1 overtime loss.

After a four-day break, both clubs found themselves back in action from United Center. The Jets chose to wake up early and travel to the Windy City for the same-day Central Division matchup with the Blackhawks.

Although starting the game strong - to the tune of an 8-0 shot lead through the opening period's midpoint - Winnipeg actually found itself down 1-0 through 20 minutes of play.

Much like that of his game-opening goal in Chicago's 3-1 loss to Winnipeg back on December 1st in Manitoba, rookie phenom Connor Bedard got the hosts on the board first once again. 

Finding a loose puck in the slot, Bedard moved to the net, shot the puck once, twice, and jammed home his second rebound on his third shot in as many seconds. 

Winnipeg outshot Chicago in the frame, but trailed heading into the second.

It took all of 3:45 for the Jets to get one back. It was the team's fourth line that came through, much like it has in typical fashion over its past number of games.

Morgan Barron potted his sixth of the season on a rush play up-ice. Dominic Toninato - who was skating in his first game of the season for Winnipeg, filling in for the injured David Gustafsson - got the puck to Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, who found Barron streaking up the left side. 

The Maritimes product beat veteran Hawks netminder Petr Mrazek five-hole, knotting the game at ones with nearly two full periods left to play.

Winnipeg found two more posts in the frame, but was unable to add to the Barron strike, keeping things tied at ones through 40 minutes of play, despite outshooting Chicago 26-11. 

But on the flip side of things, the Jets entered the third period a dismal 0/3 on the power play.

Toninato and Namestnikov each rang the pipe in the mid stages of the third, before 

With 2:56 to go, Jarred Tinordi took down Nino Niederreiter, leading to the Jets' fourth man advantage of the game. But as per the game's script, Winnipeg was unable to get the job done, sending the game to a mini game.

The Jets' failed power play proved costly, as it was Bedard who scored the overtime winner with 2:45 remaining, on the first such goal of his career. 

Moments after a failed three-on-one for Chicago, Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey missed a breakaway chance, before Bedard walked in and ripped a wrist shot through Hellebuyck for his second goal of the game and 15th of the season. 

Hellebuyck finished the game with 23 saves on the 25 Blackhawks shots he faced, while Mrazek turned aside 37 Jets shots on the night. 

Next up for Winnipeg is a home-and-home set with the team's nearest geographical rival, the Minnesota Wild on Saturday and Sunday. The Jets host the Wild at 1:00 PM central on Saturday, before travelling to St. Paul for the rematch just 24 hours later. Both games can be viewed live on TSN.