Pionk, Connor score as Jets win special teams battle over Oilers

In the final minutes of 2022, the Winnipeg Jets (23-13-1) stared down the National Hockey League's top-ranked power play, clinging to a one-goal lead, and kept it that way until the final buzzer.
In total, the Jets penalty kill went a perfect 5-for-5 en route to a 2-1 victory.
"Just a lot of unselfish guys back there getting in front of lanes and blocking a lot of shots," said Kyle Connor, who scored the eventual game-winner. "It was a good win. Any way we can get them, good teams find a way to win, that's the bottom line."
Along with Connor's goal, Neal Pionk also scored in regulation, as the Jets snapped a three-game road losing streak, and now have two wins in a row overall.
Connor Hellebuyck was sensational in goal, making 31 saves as the Jets were outshot 32-17.
"I don't think we want to make it that hard for him, but it seems like when we need him the most it seems like he's there," said Connor. "Clutch times, he's a clutch player. He's by far one of the best players in the league, he's a leader in that locker room too, and he had some good stuff tonight."

Did he ever.
The 2020 Vezina Trophy winner was everything the Jets needed on this night, as the injury depleted line-up found a way to bounce back, even after Edmonton had tied the game early in the third.
"When you're clearly half a step behind a lot of the night, your goalie gives you that confidence that 'okay, we'll get going eventually,'" said head coach Rick Bowness. "The guys have a tremendous amount of confidence in him and some guys, just stay in the fight, stay in the fight. Shift to shift."

Despite being outshot early in the first, it was the Jets that would open the scoring on their second power play of the opening period. Pionk was able to get a stick on a spectacular backhand pass from Connor, and the puck squeaked through Jack Campbell with 4:16 remaining. It was Pionk's sixth goal of the season and first since December 17.
After a scoreless second, Edmonton got back on even terms 4:29 into the third as Mattias Janmark got to a loose puck off a face-off won by David Gustafsson, then fed Klim Kostin in the slot. He snapped it past Hellebuyck for his fifth of the season, making it 1-1.
Just 1:26 later, the Jets took the lead back, as Connor got a stick on a Pionk wrister from the point for his 16th of the season. It was quite the deflection from Connor, who was able to get his stick around a check in front of the net to get just enough of the shot to deflect it past Jack Campbell for the 2-1 lead. Kristian Reichel, who was playing his first game with the Jets this season, picked up the secondary assist on the play.
"Our big focal point is our D trying to get those shots through, that's all your can do, just don't get it blocked," said Connor. "I thought they did a good job of that tonight - some good sifters. Us as forwards, we have to get to the net, a lot of goals are scored right there. I just tried to get there and kind of stretched out for that tip and lucky it went in."

That response was key, as it stopped Edmonton's home ice momentum in its tracks.
"It was huge," said Bowness. "Timely goals, timely saves. That's what the NHL is today and we got the timely saves, for sure. And we certainly got the timely goal, that was it and we got a big jump after that."
Then came the biggest test the Jets penalty kill faced on the night, as the visitors were shorthanded for the final 2:24 of regulation after Brenden Dillon was handed a double-minor for high-sticking.
Winnipeg's eighth-ranked penalty kill held strong, with Dylan Samberg coming up with a big shot block on a one-timer, even as the Oilers had pulled Campbell, giving them a 6-on-4 advantage.
"That's two games in a row now where our special teams have won the game for us," said Bowness. "Against Vancouver, we got a couple of power-play goals, a good penalty kill and the same tonight, got a power-play goal and our penalty killers were exceptional tonight."
Now the Jets get a couple days off before their first game of 2023, which is a tilt against the Calgary Flames at Canada Life Centre.