Kuhlman's third period goal helps Jets to win in Philadelphia

For the first time since January 31, 2012, the Winnipeg Jets earned a win in Philadelphia.
It didn't come easy, as an early 3-0 lead evaporated thanks to a potent Flyers power play, but Karson Kuhlman notched the eventual game-winner with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation, and David Rittich stood tall in the final minutes to give Winnipeg a 5-3 win.
"We just wanted to play our game right from the drop of the puck," said Kuhlman. "I think we did that and gave ourselves a little bit of a cushion. Obviously we wanted to play a better 60-minute game than that, but ended up with the win."
The victory evens the record on a five-game road trip, as the Jets (31-16-1) have now won two in a row after dropping the first two stops in Montreal and Toronto.
However, unlike the win in Ottawa where the top two lines combining for two power play goals and nine points, the victory in Philadelphia had contributions throughout the line-up.

Nine of the 12 forwards had a point, and the blue line combined for five points. The goals came from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Kuhlman, and Kevin Stenlund.
"All four lines scored. The fourth line got two. It was a heck of a play at the end by Kevin (Stenlund) to get the empty-netter," said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. "Just as important was that shot block by Axel. That was huge for us. When you find ways to win, you have guys sacrificing like that and you hope the shot block turns into two points for the team - and it did."
Jonsson-Fjallby put the Jets ahead 1-0 on a deft deflection of a Brenden Dillon point shot 4:53 into the first period. Jonsson-Fjallby's fourth of the season marked the second time this season that the Swedish forward had put together points in consecutive games.
That was followed quickly by Connor, who ripped home a Cole Perfetti pass on a two-on-one rush just 1:21 after Jonsson-Fjallby's tally. It was the 24th of the season for Connor, who now has points in 13 of the last 14 games. Meanwhile, Perfetti's assist gave him 21 helpers on the season, the most among rookies.

The offensive surge continued, as Scheifele notched his 29th of the season to make it 3-0 Winnipeg just 8:31 into the opening period. He capped off a brilliant passing play, as Nikolaj Ehlers flew around the Flyers net, found Blake Wheeler in the slot, and Wheeler one-touched it to his left onto Scheifele's tape and in the back of the net.
"We got the start we wanted, that's for sure," said Dillon. "When we commit to defending and playing the right way, we're going to score enough goals this year to be able to offset that. We committed to it for a good chunk of the game, enough to win it tonight."
Before the end of the first, though, Ivan Provorov joined a rush up the ice and potted his third of the season to cut the Jets lead to 3-1.
"I hate giving up those goals late in periods like we did in the first. That gave them a lot of life," said Bowness. "So we kind of had some self-inflicted damage out there, but we'll address that."

Philadelphia scored another late period marker, this one with 1:33 left in the second, to make it 3-2. With Nate Schmidt in the box for interference, Kevin Hayes' one-timer from a sharp angle got by David Rittich to cut the Jets lead to 3-2. It was the first power play goal the Jets had given up since January 10 in Detroit, a span of 19 consecutive kills.
"The special teams battle tonight, unfortunately, we weren't able to get the job done on, which is frustrating for us," said Dillon. "We know how big a part, and how big a game-changer we can be. Ultimately, kind of contributing up and down the lineup, too, and we found a way."
Then, early in the third, Hayes struck again. On another Flyers power play, a shot from Morgan Frost from the left circle got kicked out to the right side, and despite Rittich's sprawling attempt to get across, Hayes was able to fire home his 15th of the season just 2:35 into the final frame.
All of a sudden the Jets had given up two straight power play markers, and the power play - which had scored in five straight - was coming up empty, finishing 0-for-5.
"Our specialty teams were off tonight. They've won us a lot of games this year, so we're not going to complain about that," said Bowness. "It was an off night for both (the power play and penalty kill). Just an off night. But good teams find a way to win and we found a way to win."

Just after a Jets five-on-three power play opportunity expired, Kuhlman's drive to the net with 11:16 remaining in regulation put the visitors back in front 4-3. For his second tally as a Jet, Kuhlman drove from the right circle to the Flyers crease, and his attempt slid under Felix Sandstrom with Dylan DeMelo and Dillon picking up assists.
"(Morgan) Barron and I had taken a few pucks to the net earlier in the game and just kind of missed, they were just sitting around there," said Kuhlman. "It was nice to see that one slide in."
The Jets hung on from there, with Rittich finishing with 28 saves for his eighth win of the season, and third in a row. His best stop was his last, as a maze of bodies, sticks, and skates covered his vision of a Tony DeAngelo shot from the slot, but Rittich's pad was in the right spot at the right time.
Winnipeg iced the puck shortly after, then Stenlund won a foot race in the neutral zone and tucked home the empty netter to seal the win.
The final stop on the road trip takes the Jets to the Central Division, and a tilt with the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.