GAMEDAY: Canucks at Jets

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets are back on home ice, and suddenly there's a little life around this hockey club again. After enduring a nine-game winless streak, the Jets pulled off a comeback for the ages Tuesday night in Montreal, erasing a four-goal deficit in the final minutes before Dylan Samberg delivered the overtime winner in a stunning 5-4 victory. It was the kind of win that can change the mood in a dressing room, but the challenge now is making sure it wasn't just one unforgettable night.

“It felt like we were doing everything right. You just weren’t seeing any results. Obviously the last five minutes of the game heading into overtime we got to see the puck go in and get some rewards for how we played," said Adam Lowry.

"But I think for the most part in that game, we were direct, we created a lot of chances, we carried the play. It was nice to get rewarded and get out of this thing and take some confidence into tonight.”

The Jets open a three-game homestand Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks (7 PM MT, TV: TSN 3; Radio: 680 CJOB/Power 97) with an opportunity to build on that momentum. The emotional lift from Montreal should be significant, but Winnipeg needs to carry that same urgency, desperation and offensive push into its own building. Can the comeback serve as a turning point for a team that desperately needed something to go its way, or will the Jets struggle to find that same level of play now that the pressure of the losing streak has been lifted?

"That was a pretty special feeling for our group in there," said Tyrell Bauer on Tuesday night.

"Listen, we know it's early in the year, but we want to build off that momentum and keep going.”

Bauer achieved a bunch of firsts on Tuesday night, first goal, first assist and first Gordie Howe hat trick. He moved up from right defence to right wing in Montreal and will have to do so once again on Thursday night.

"He’s going to be a forward tonight. We had a lot of games where a guy like Neal (Pionk) is playing 27 or 28 minutes a night. It was more about kind of helping our defence have some numbers there and doubling up the forwards and kind of giving them some extra workload with 11 and seven," said Scott Arniel.

"Now (Yager) is here and I would like to get them where it’s more consistent. It’s tough for the kid (Bauer). He’s going right wing, right D, right wing, right D. So this gives him an opportunity to get out and do what he’s doing.”

Morgan Barron was dialed in in the face off circle in Montreal winning 13-of-20 draws for the Jets including some key ones in the third period. Barron will be in the middle again tonight with Bauer and said he feels the Alberta product will be just fine.

"He moves well once he gets going," said Barron.

"You see him kind of getting going on the forecheck, and certainly not something I'd want to see coming if I'm going back to get a puck as a D man. So yeah, excited for whatever the night brings."

Brayden Yager was recalled this morning and immediately he was put between Cole Perfetti and Dawson Mercer on the Jets second line.

"He was disappointed when he got sent down to start the year. Thought he had a really good camp. I know we talked about that. He's really matured as a player. Came up and played the game (in Dallas). We made the trade and all of a sudden, we had roster issues and he was the easiest, so to speak, to go down," said Arniel.

"And he went down and was still their best player. I talked to Mo (Mark Morrison) and Zinger (Craig Heisinger), and he was still their best player, which is great to hear. Earned the opportunity to come back again."

Winnipeg posted a 3-0-0 record against the Canucks last season. The Jets have posted a 8-2-0 record in the last 10 games against Vancouver and a 4-1-0 record in the last five. Winnipeg has won each of the past six matchups with Vancouver at Canada Life Centre, outscoring the Canucks by a total of 27 to 12.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.