SEATTLE – Nikolaj Ehlers scored 1:26 into overtime, lifting the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday. This win extended the Jets’ season-opening streak to seven games.
Ehlers’ game-winner came after a delayed penalty call against Seattle, as he took control of the puck in the high slot and launched a wrist shot that slipped past Joey Daccord’s arm and trickled into the net.
Nino Niederreiter scored twice, and Gabriel Vilardi added a goal for the undefeated Jets (7-0-0), who became just the fifth team in the past decade to open a season with a seven-game winning streak. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck recorded 29 saves, improving his season record to 6-0-0.
For the Kraken (4-3-1), Matty Beniers had two goals and an assist, Jordan Eberle scored, and Jared McCann contributed two assists. Daccord made 32 saves in the losing effort as Seattle dropped its second consecutive game.
Seattle struck first, with Beniers scoring his first goal of the season at 11:27 of the first period on a wrist shot from the left circle, set up by a pass from McCann.
The Jets responded early in the second period, with Niederreiter tying the game at 1-1 after Mason Appleton’s shot deflected off Daccord’s blocker and bounced off Niederreiter as he drove toward the net. Vilardi later put Winnipeg ahead 2-1 at 15:05, tucking the puck past Daccord after a series of passes from Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele.
Niederreiter extended Winnipeg’s lead to 3-1 early in the third period, netting his second goal by faking a shot from the right circle, cutting inside, and lifting the puck into an open net just after a power play expired.
Seattle narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 11:01 of the third when Eberle received a pass from McCann near the crease and scored on a backhanded shot. Beniers then forced overtime by tipping in Brandon Montour’s slap shot with just 3:22 left in regulation, bringing the score to 3-3.
Although the rally came up short, the Kraken were able to salvage a point in the standings with the overtime loss.
Up Next:
Saturday vs Carolina Hurricanes 7:00pm.
By Marcus Sledge
