Scheifele scores twice, Jets recover to defeat Panthers in OT

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Mark Scheifele scored two goals, including the game-winner with 29 seconds remaining in overtime, and the Winnipeg Jets recovered for a 5-4 win against the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena on Saturday.

"The last two games we thought we played really well and didn't get rewarded with the win," Scheifele said. "You know, sometimes God just has a way of challenging you, and He challenged this group tonight. It was a big win and that's just the way the game of hockey works, and now we've just got to go on to the next one."
Vladislav Namestnikov had two goals and an assist, and Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and two assists for the Jets (37-26-3), who had lost two in a row and nine of 11. Connor Hellebuyck made 44 saves.
"[Hellebuyck] made some huge saves, especially in overtime," Scheifele said. "That was a big win for the team and especially for him. Hopefully we don't give him that much work the next game, but he was a rock for us tonight."

Winnipeg moved within three points of the Edmonton Oilers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"If you would have told us we were getting at least a point out of it, we would have taken that at the beginning of the third [period]," Tkachuk said. "Whenever you're in overtime, you'd like to get that extra one, but the way we were able to push and really dominate the second half of that game is something that we need to build on and figure out."
Matthew Tkachuk had two goals and an assist, and Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (33-27-7), who had won three straight. Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves.
Florida moved within three points of the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"We were trailing all game long," Panthers defenseman Marc Staal said. "I thought we did a good job regrouping in the second and come after it. It's a big point. It's tough losing in overtime, obviously, but three out of four on a tough weekend, we've got to take the positives because we've got to keep on winning. So, we've got a long break here, we need to regroup and get ready for the stretch."

Staal cut it to 4-3 off an assist from Eric Staal during a 4-on-2 rush 33 seconds into the third period.
Tkachuk then scored his second power-play goal of the game to tie it 4-4 at 6:24. Tkachuk has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past two games.
The Jets went 2-for-3 on the power play, all in the first period, while the Panthers were 3-for-5 with the man-advantage, scoring a power-play goal in each period.
"The second half of the game they did not have an answer for us other than their goalie kept them in it," Tkachuk said. "And honestly, he was the one that got them to overtime, too. We were able to push it and get those few and we could've had a few more. Their goalie played really good."

Scheifele gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 6:43 of the first period on a power play, and Ehlers made it 2-0 at 15:03 with a shot from the right face-off dot.
"[Scheifele] had an outstanding game on both sides of the puck," Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. "Happy to see the goals go in, but it was just as important what he did at the end of the game defensively, in our zone, battling behind the net, winning that battle and getting it out. A solid, solid game from him."
Tkachuk cut it to 2-1 at 16:44, jamming in a rebound on the power play.
Namestnikov extended the lead to 3-1 with 53 seconds left in the first after Ehlers found him in front with a pass from the corner. It was Namestnikov's first goal with Winnipeg since being acquired from the San Jose Sharks on March 4.
"[Namestnikov's] a guy, he just knows where to go on the ice," Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo said. "A smart player. Not the biggest guy but he goes right to the net front on that goal, and great patience."

Reinhart cut it to 3-2 at 4:09 of the second period with a power-play goal on a 3-on-2 rush.
Namestnikov made it 4-2 at 12:59 when he tucked a rebound behind Bobrovsky. It was the 10th multigoal game of his career.
Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game early in the third period, and forward Adam Lowry also left with 5:02 remaining in the third.
"[Both are] lower-body," Bowness said. "More evaluation tomorrow. I would say both of them are very, very doubtful for tomorrow (against the Tampa Bay Lightning)."
NOTES: Scheifele has 13 overtime goals, the most in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history. His 41st career game-winning goal also tied Blake Wheeler for second in Jets/Thrashers history, behind only Kyle Connor (42). … Connor had two assists to extend his point streak to four games (five assists). … Ehlers has five points (one goal, four assists) during a three-game point streak. … Namestnikov has five points (two goals, three assists) in four games with the Jets. … Tkachuk has 29 multipoint games this season, trailing only Connor McDavid (37) for the most in the NHL. … Barkov had two assists to extend his point streak to four games (one goal, five assists).