Jets fall 2-1 in overtime to Oilers

WINNIPEG – Tuesday night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers represented a final opportunity for several players to make an impression, with the Winnipeg Jets coaching staff facing some important decisions as the preseason moves along.

Head coach Scott Arniel said the focus will shift to the power play and penalty kill beginning Thursday, signalling that the evaluation process is entering its final stages. With a significant number of players still to be evaluated — and some expected to be moved out — the urgency was clear for those looking to make one last push for a roster spot.

As for the game itself, Alex Iafallo scored the only goal for Winnipeg as the Oilers won 2-1 in overtime.

“Yeah, just getting that rust off early. Obviously it's the first one for some of us. Some of the young guys had a game," said Iafallo.

"But the things that we're focusing on, playing that fast, aggressive game in situations that we've been doing tonight. We can definitely tell it's going to help just keep building day after day.”

Since the start of camp, Iafallo has been skating with Nino Niederreiter and Brayden Yager, the 32-year-old has been enjoying all the young players pushing for jobs this fall.

“Yeah, I think all the young guys are doing a great job of playing their game, but also molding around our scenarios and what we need to accomplish," said Iafallo.

"And they've all had a great mindset each and every day, working their tail off, so it's been fun playing with them all.”

Dom DiVincentiis was solid making 21 saves in his one and only start of the preseason. As of right now, he and Thomas Milic are battling for the backup spot behind Stuart Skinner.

"Yeah, it was awesome. It was great to be back," said DiVincentiis. 

"I mean, hockey seasons around the corner, and felt good to be back out there, get the rust off, and unfortunately, we just came short. But I thought we played a really solid game out there."

The Jets and Oilers didn’t exactly turn the first period into a shooting gallery, combining for just five shots through the opening 13 minutes. Then, at 13:04, Nino Niederreiter sent a shot toward the Oilers net that went wide, caromed off the end boards and landed right on the stick of Alex Iafallo, who snapped it past Devon Levi to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.

Edmonton quickly answered back at 15:50 when Atro Leppänen’s point shot slipped under Dom DiVincentiis and found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1. Oilers forward Zach Hyman appeared to make some contact with the Jets goaltender after the shot, the Jets couldn’t challenge for goaltender interference because that wasn’t available on Tuesday night.

With the score still tied at one in the third, Hadyn Fleury fed Iafallo who was all alone in front of the Oilers net, but the veteran forward was denied by Connor Ungar.

Edmonton had a chance to take the lead with under three minutes left; Connor Murphy walked in and DiVincentiis kicked out the left pad to keep it 1-1.

In overtime, after Dylan Samberg fired a slap shot wide of the net, the Oilers then caught the Jets on a line change and Hyman spotted Viljami Marjala on a 2-on-1, Marjala wired a shot over DiVincentiis’ glove at 1:26.

The Jets’ special teams units haven’t had much opportunity to work together through training camp, but they got some extended time Tuesday night. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play.

Winnipeg will wrap up the preseason Friday in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche.