Jets Stay Undefeated with 4-3 Win Over Kraken
Aalborg, Denmark-born Nikolaj Ehlers netted the game-winning goal 1:26 into overtime, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory for the Winnipeg Jets over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
The victory extended the Jets’ undefeated streak this NHL season.
Ranking second in the league in scoring, the Jets have now recorded three or more goals in four consecutive games, reaching this mark in five of its seven games this season.
Chur, Switzerland-born winger Nino Niederreiter, who was selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and became the highest-drafted Swiss hockey player in NHL history at the time, led the Jets with two goals.
Kingston, Ontario-born Gabriel Vilardi, who was drafted in the first round, second overall, in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection by the Windsor Spitfires, also scored.
The win would not have been possible without Commerce, Michigan-born goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s steady net interventions with 29 saves, helping Winnipeg improve to a perfect 7-0.
How the Action Unfolded
For Seattle, it was Hingham, Massachusetts-born Matty Beniers, the first-ever NHL Draft pick of the expansion Seattle Kraken when he was chosen No. 2 in the 2021 NHL Draft, who shone with two goals and an assist.
Beniers’ goals marked his first two this season. Notably, he didn’t score his second goal until Seattle’s 18th game last season.
The Kraken’s third goal came from Regina, Saskatchewan-born Jordan Eberle who closed the gap with 9:58 left.
The hockey game started with Beniers opening the scoring at 11:27 in the first period, putting the Kraken up 1-0.
The Jets responded in the second period when Niederreiter tied the game with a goal at 3:56.
Vilardi then slipped one past Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord at 15:05, giving the Jets a 2-1 advantage.
Niederreiter extended Winnipeg’s lead just over four minutes into the third period, making it a two-goal cushion.
Seattle fought back, as Eberle scored and tallied his sixth goal in the Kraken’s first eight games.
Beniers then scored his second of the night with 3:22 remaining, tying it at 3-3 and pushing the game into overtime.
Daccord recorded 32 saves for the Kraken in the hard-fought contest.
A key moment was when Kraken nearly took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period on an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal, but it was disallowed upon review due to goaltender interference.
Moments later, Vilardi’s goal for Winnipeg gave the Jets the lead, intensifying the impact of the overturned call.
Next, the Jets will head to Calgary for a Saturday night matchup, while the Kraken will host Carolina in their next game.