Jets defeat Flames in Heritage Classic on Little OT goal

REGINA, Saskatchewan -- Bryan Little made sure the 2019 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic lived up to its lofty moniker, scoring at 3:04 of overtime to give the Winnipeg Jets a 2-1 victory against the Calgary Flames at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.

Little tapped in a pass from Kyle Connor on a 2-on-1 for his first goal of the season, ending a game that had all the makings of a spectacle, from the pomp and circumstance of the opening ceremonies, to the light snow that fell throughout the game creating a snow-globe effect, to the third-period dramatics that set up the overtime winner.
"I definitely had this circled on the calendar," said Little, who was injured when the Jets played in the 2016 Heritage Classic, a 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. "Definitely lived up to everything. I felt like everyone was kind of worried about the conditions, the wind and everything, but it turned out really well. Just a bit of snow, but it wasn't too bad. It was kind of the perfect conditions."
WATCH: [All Flames vs. Jets highlights]
Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey tied the game 1-1 with a slap shot from the left point on the power play at 15:49 of the third period.

Morrissey's first goal of the season came on the fourth power play of the game for the Jets, who had failed to score on their previous 13 man-advantage opportunities. They finished 1-for-5.
"I thought we battled hard on that power play to get pucks back," Morrissey said. "There were a couple of good plays down low. We had talked right before that power play to try to get some shots to the net, get traffic there. When it's not going, that's usually a good recipe. Just was able to make a good shot, and you could see the double screen in front, I think [Mark Scheifele] and Kyle in front. When you have two screens like that and the goalie can't see, and you make a good shot, you can get rewarded."
Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves for Winnipeg (6-6-0), which won for the second time in six games.
Elias Lindholm gave Calgary a 1-0 lead when scored on the power play at 14:17 of the second period, one-timing a pass from Johnny Gaudreau for his Flames-leading seventh goal.
David Rittich made 43 saves, an NHL regular-season outdoor game record, for Calgary (6-5-2), which has lost three of five.
"We played good for most of the night, and in the third period they came out strong, and we didn't have an answer for that," Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "They get one late, and then they win in overtime on a 2-on-1. You know, they don't give you two points for playing well for most of the game, you have to finish it off."
The 2019 Heritage Classic was the 28th outdoor game in NHL history. It was the first at a neutral site of the seven played in Canada.
And it was one those involved said they would remember for a long time.
"Sometimes the best seat is right behind the bench because you can see it all," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. "The fireworks are going off, and those jets come over, and [the national anthem] is just done, and it's snowing out. You just needed Santa and the reindeer blasting over, and it would make the perfect scene. It would have been about the only thing to top that one. It was really good, was what I was trying to say."

They said it

"Two guys tonight, Josh Morrissey and Bryan Little, such important people in our room. Character guys that are team-first all the time. Great leaders. So they get to keep this. Their families are here. They get to share that with them after. Those are the people that should enjoy a game like tonight." -- Jets coach Paul Maurice on their two goal-scorers
"Well, the experience was outstanding. Between the NHL and the city of Regina, the hockey fans in the province of Saskatchewan came out in full force. Lots of energy in Mosaic Stadium, and a beautiful setting with the light snow, and the temperature wasn't too bad. They're fantastic, they just flat out are. If you ever get a chance to be a part of one, do it. You ever as a fan get a chance to attend one, I would definitely not deprive myself of the opportunity to do that." -- Flames coach Bill Peters

Need to know

Jonathan Bernier previously held the record for most saves in an outdoor NHL game. He made 41 for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings. ... It was the 14th comeback win -- and third straight -- in the 28 NHL outdoor games. The Boston Bruins rallied from down 1-0 and 2-1 to win 4-2 in the 2019 Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Philadelphia Flyers came back from down 1-0 and 3-1 for a 4-3 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 Stadium Series. ... The temperature at the opening face-off was 27.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the ninth time an NHL outdoor game started at or below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit).

What's next

Flames: At the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, SNF, NHL.TV)
Jets: At the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, PRIME, TSN3, NHL.TV)