Three things - Jets come up short in OT

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets fell 2-1 in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings at Canada Life Centre and are now 1-2-1 at the halfway mark of their season high eight game homestand. Mark Scheifele scored the lone goal for the Jets who are now 28-12-3 on the season. Eric Comrie made 21 saves in the loss. Winnipeg will return to action on Saturday when they host the Colorado Avalanche.

CELEBRATING GREATNESS

Before the game, the Jets held a special ceremony celebrating Connor Hellebuyck hitting three significant milestones this season. The Jets star goaltender reached 500 career games, 40 shutouts and his 300^th win and was rewarded with silver stick (for 500 games), gold stick (for 300 wins), a puck (for 40 shutouts) and special artwork. Hellebuyck’s wife Andrea, children Hugh and Violet and his dad Chuck took part as well as Jets executive chairman Mark Chipman.

COMRIE WATCH CONTINUES

After starting the season 3-0, Eric Comrie had dropped his last seven starts. The Jets backup goaltender has certainly deserved a better fate as he was brilliant tonight much like he was his last start in Denver against the Avalanche in the second game of a back-to-back situation. With the Kings leading 1-0 in the third period, Winnipeg started the take over the game and got back-to-back power plays and finally got the puck past Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the second man advantage. Kyle Connor started the play finding Gabe Vilardi who sent a perfect pass to Mark Scheifele and the Jets leading goal scorer fired home his 24^th of the season.

“I think when you let the game kind of come to you and just stick to our structure and stick to the game that we play. And when opportunity presents itself, you go and take advantage,” said Scheifele on the Jets patience tonight.

“So, I thought tonight was a great game. Comms played amazing again. And would have been nice to get him to get him a win.”

THE RETURN OF SAMBERG

Dylan Samberg missed 21 games after breaking his foot blocking a shot from Steven Stamkos back on November 23. The Jets missed one of their top four defencemen especially his shot blocking ability on the penalty kill. Samberg blocked a shot in the first period and joked with 680 CJOB’s Mitchell Clinton during the first intermission that the shot hit a spot where there was no padding. The 25-year-old finished the night playing 22:35, recording two blocked shots and one hit and helping the team’s penalty kill go a perfect three-for-three.