Copp's late goal helps Jets end Blue Jackets' winning streak at three

Andrew Copp scored the go-ahead goal for the Winnipeg Jets with 1:54 remaining in the third period of a 4-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Bell MTS Place on Saturday.

Blake Wheeler had a goal and an assist for the Jets (14-9-1), who are 8-2-1 in their past 11 games after losing five of their previous seven (2-5-0). Laurent Brossoit made 27 saves on 30 shots before leaving with cramps at 8:41 of the third period; Connor Hellebuyck made five saves in relief to earn the win.
"It's just who our team is this year," Wheeler said. "Right away from training camp, it's what we've been doing. Obviously, the hockey hasn't always been pretty in the first little bit, but the last stretch of games, I thought we've found something. It all goes back to that compete, that work ethic."
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Jets highlights]
Copp scored the winning goal from the left face-off circle after intercepting a pass from goalie Elvis Merzlikins. His shot went in off defenseman David Savard.
"You pick off and the goalie is scrambling to get back to the net," Copp said. "Just try to get one there, and luckily enough, it kind of hit off a D-man and slid in. Kind of a fortuitous bounce, but with two minutes left, you'll take them any way you can get them."

Merzlikins made 27 saves for Columbus (9-9-4), which came in on a season-high three-game winning streak after losing seven of its previous eight games (1-5-2).
Winnipeg played the final 24:23 with four defensemen. Josh Morrissey left the game at 11:54 of the second period with a lower-body injury, and then Nathan Beaulieu left with an upper-body injury at 15:37.
"We were trying [to take advantage of the Jets being down two defensemen]. We were trying," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "They know they're down to four D so they were trying to protect them also. ... But we were the better team. We were the better team that found a way to lose."
Pierre-Luc Dubois put the Blue Jackets ahead 1-0 with on a power play at 4:59 of the first period. He scored on a wrist shot from the bottom of the right face-off circle after collecting a rebound off a shot from Oliver Bjorkstrand, who had two assists.
Wheeler tied it 1-1 on a one-timer set up by Jack Roslovic at 8:23 of the first. That ended a nine-game goal drought for Wheeler since scoring one goal in consecutive games against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 29 and San Jose Sharks on Nov. 1.
Nikolaj Ehlers gave the Jets a 2-1 lead at 5:19 of the second period shortly after leaving the penalty box.
Seth Jones scored on a slap shot past a screen by Alex Wennberg, tying it 2-2 on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:30 of the second before Gustav Nyquist gave Columbus a 3-2 lead when he scored on the remaining power play at 7:17.
"We gain confidence off the power play," Bjorkstrand said. "I think we're moving it well. It showed tonight. I think that's where all of our three goals came from. So you have to take advantage of that and try to bury one 5-on-5."
Mathieu Perreault tied it 3-3 when he dropped to one knee for a spinning one-timer at 14:43 of the second.

They said it

"I thought the power play did a good job tonight, got goals. It's frustrating. Playing [against] four D at the end. You feel like you could give a push and break them. I felt like we could've pushed a bit more." -- Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois

"[Laurent Brossoit] really earned this victory tonight. Unfortunately, I take the stat. I hope he knows, and I've told him that everyone in here knows, that he earned that victory tonight." -- Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck

Need to know

The Blue Jackets scored each of their three goals on the power play, when they were 3-for-5. They last scored three power-play goals against the Detroit Red Wings on April 3, 2018. ... Merzlikins is 0-2-3 in six games (five starts) in his first NHL season. ... Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had the primary assist on Jones' goal, extending his point streak to six games. He has eight points (three goals, five assists) during that stretch. ... Winnipeg is 11-1-1 in games decided by one goal this season. ... Jets forward Kyle Connor was held without a point, ending his four-game point streak (two goals, three assists). ... Maurice said he expects Morrissey to be fine, but Beaulieu will require tests.

What's next

Blue Jackets:Host the Ottawa Senators on Monday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV)
Jets: At the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSA, TSN3, NHL.TV)