Jets Fall to Calgary 5-3 in Season Opener

The Winnipeg Jets opened the 2023-24 NHL season with a narrow 5-3 loss as they took to the ice at Scotiabank Saddledome in a late-night affair with the Flames on Wednesday.

For the second time in three seasons, the Jets opened the year against Calgary. In 2021 it was a 4-3 overtime victory for Winnipeg, but this time, the Jets didn't get quite as lucky. 

Although outshooting the Flames nearly 2-1 all game, Winnipeg ultimately wound up on the bottom, as Calgary's netminder Jacob Markstrom stood tall in the crease for the home team.

Fresh off his new seven-year, $59.5 million extension signed on Monday, Jets' goaltender Connor Hellebuyck gave up three shots on the first 12 shots he faced, paving the way for a late collapse in a game the Jets seemingly controlled off the get-go.

“Just to give up those points the way we did was disappointing," head coach Rick Bowness said post-game. "But if we play like that, like I said, we are going to win a lot of hockey games."

Winnipeg came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. After putting up the first three shots of the game, the Jets found themselves ahead 10-2 after just six minutes of play. Despite the strong start from Winnipeg, it was actually Calgary that opened the scoring.

With Josh Morrissey in the box for delay of game, Andrew Mangiapane potted his first of the season. An Adam Ruzicka wrist shot deflected off Neal Pionk and landed directly on Mangiapane’s stick, who hammered home the loose puck, putting the home team ahead on its sixth shot of the game.

But it didn’t take long for the Jets to respond. Exactly 2:20 later, Kyle Connor picked up his first of the campaign on a shot that had no business finding the twine. Coming from nearly the blueline, Connor’s wrister sneaked through Jacob Markstrom’s five-hole and trickled over the goal line, knotting the game at ones with 5:11 to play.

Three minutes later it was Calgary that pulled back ahead on another long-range tally. The Flames’ second goal of the game came off the stick of defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, whose seeing-eye point shot that found its way through a puzzled Hellebuyck, just before the period came to a close.

Winnipeg trailed 2-1 through 20 minutes of play, but held onto a 14-8 shot lead.

Winnipeg tied it back up midway through the second period, as a strong shift from its third line pulled the two teams back to even playing ground once again. Captain Adam Lowry got things going as he caught an airborne clearing attempt and found a wide-open Dylan DeMelo at the right point. His low shot-pass was deflected perfectly by newcomer Alex Iafallo up and over the shoulder of Markstrom.

"I had a great view of it on the bench," Connor said of Iafallo's redirection. "It was as top corner as you can get."

With the Jets on a late-period power play, Calgary used the momentum from some strong goaltending to capitalize on a shorthanded marker. 

Moments after batting the puck out of the air with a blatant high-stick, defenceman Rasmus Andersson put the finishing touches on a Flames’ rush up-ice, beating Hellebuyck for the third time on what was just the 12^th shot on net by Calgary.

Coming close on multiple power play opportunities, Winnipeg entered the third period down 3-2, while doubling up Calgary 28-14 on the shot chart. And despite a strong effort with the man advantage, the top unit of Scheifele, Connor, Vilardi, Morrissey and Iafallo was shut out in its five opportunities through 40 minutes of play.

"I thought our power play looked really good, moving the puck well, given the options that were there, taking it, whether it was a shot or using all the options down low or in the slot," Connor added. "You know you play that game in this league and you will win more times than not so I think we take the positives away from that game and move on."

Having maintained a 2:1 shot lead throughout the majority of the game, Winnipeg finally evened the game at threes late in the third. 

With 5:42 to go, Morrissey found Scheifele on the doorstep, who made no mistake, calmly putting it past Markstrom high, glove side, breathing new life into the visitors' bench. 

But it was all for naught, as Elias Lindholm put Calgary back ahead for good with 1:31 to go. A tired Jets group collectively lost coverage in the defensive zone leading to a nifty behind-the-net passing play between Mangiapane and Lindholm, whose first of the year proved to be the game-winner.  

Mangiapane added his second of the night into the empty net with just six seconds remaining, sealing the deal for Calgary. 

Hellebuyck finished the night with just 17 saves on 21 Flames shots, while Markstrom made 35 stops on the 38 shots he faced. 

Next up for Winnipeg is the team's home opener from Canada Life Centre on Saturday against Florida. The matinee showdown features a 3:00 PM central start time, and can once again be viewed live on Sportsnet.