Jets Lose at Home for First Time Since January

The Winnipeg Jets are Seattle Kraken took to the ice at Canada Life Centre for the first test of an extended home-and-home battle on Tuesday night.

With the clubs set to pick things back up in Seattle on Friday, Tuesday's game featured a back-and-forth affair, with special teams serving as the protagonist. 

With goals on both the power play and the penalty kill, Seattle ultimately won the game 4-3, overcoming an early third period Jets lead in the process.

Winnipeg battled back, but it was the Kraken that came out on top, as the Jets fell to 39-17-5 on the year.

Justin Schultz opened the scoring for the visitors, as he finished off a three-on-two rush up-ice perfectly, beating Connor Hellebuyck just 8:45 into the opening frame. 

Despite holding a decent shot lead, Winnipeg trailed after 20 minutes of play, but that changed come the second period.

This time it was the Jets that struck eight minutes in. The goal was a big one for Mark Scheifele, who recorded career point No. 700 of his career, as he picked up the primary assist on linemate Kyle Connor's 26th goal of the season. 

But, with Winnipeg on a power play, it was the Kraken that struck. For the second time in as many nights, Jared McCann scored a shorthanded marker. 

Moments after the lone defenceman on the ice, Josh Morrissey, was denied on a solo rush chance, Yanni Gourde saw some open ice and sprung McCann, who beat Hellebuyck high, glove-side, restoring Seattle's lead.

With the seconds ticking down in the period, Adam Lowry pounded home a Mason Appleton offering from the high-slot, tying things up at twos with just seven seconds remaining. 

The goal was Lowry's first marker in 22, and came with his father, Dave, standing on the opposing bench. 

The Jets maintained their shot lead, pulling ahead 24-17 after 40 minutes of play. 

Entering play, the Jets owned a 7-2-3 record when tied after two periods of play, and were looking for their sixth-straight win at home. 

Winnipeg got its first lead of the game just 1:17 in the third, as Nino Niederreiter finished off another strong shift by the Jets' third line. 

Hellebuyck started the play behind the net, who got it to Lowry on the boards. He found Appleton, who picked up his second primary assist of the night, finding Niederreiter on a partial break, where his patience beat netminder Joey Daccord, putting Winnipeg up 3-2.

For Niederreiter, it was his third-straight game with a goal, and his fourth goal over the past three games. 

But the lead was extremely short-lived, as the Kraken got one back just 25 seconds later. 

Veteran forward Tomas Tatar put a perfect deflection past Hellebuyck, as he redirected a long-range Matty Beniers wrister home. 

Then, with Logan Stanley in the box for slashing, Seattle found the dagger. A heroic Appleton shot block wasn't enough, as the rebound came to Andre Burakovsky, who put a wrist shot through Hellebuyck, bringing the Kraken back atop the scoreboard. 

Winnipeg pulled Hellebuyck for the extra attacker as time ticked down on a Jets power play, but for the first time in three games, the team was unable to put together a late-game comeback, ultimately falling 4-3.

Neal Pionk had the best opportunity with just a handful of seconds left, but Daccord slammed shut the door, helping his team earn valuable points in its push for the postseason.  

Hellebuyck finished the night with 20 saves on the 24 Kraken shots he faced, while Daccord turned aside 30 of the 33 pucks he faced.

Next up is the flip side of the two-game set with the Kraken. Winnipeg and Seattle will pick things back up at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday night at 9:00 PM central. The game can be viewed live on TSN.