A change of scenery may be a good thing as the Winnipeg Jets closed out a five-game homestand without a win after a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
The Jets’ losing streak also sits at five games, with their last win coming in Toronto on April 15.
A pair of power play goals were the difference as the Oilers’ dominance over Winnipeg continued on the night, the finale of the season series between the two sides. Edmonton won seven of nine meetings against the Jets in 2021.
Blake Wheeler’s name was all over the scoresheet. The captain opened the Jets scoring in the second period but both of the Oilers’ first two goals came on the power play while Wheeler was serving penalties.
After a quiet start to the opening period, a Wheeler tripping penalty midway through the frame gave Edmonton their first power play on the night, and the Oilers took advantage. A quick feed from Connor McDavid found Tyson Barrie in the middle of the ice, and he pounded a slap shot through a screen and over the shoulder of Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s blocker side.
Wheeler would get the Jets on the board early in the second period. A beautiful backhanded pass from the corner by Andrew Copp found Wheeler on the other side of the ice and he placed the puck along the ice beyond the reach of Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen to even the score at a goal a piece.
But, with Wheeler in the box on a high sticking double-minor, Edmonton found the game-winning goal later in the period. A wrist shot from the top of the circle by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins beat a once again screened Hellebuyck on the glove side to regain the lead for the Oilers.
Leon Draisaitl iced it with an empty-netter with nine seconds left on the clock to extend his point streak to three games.
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McDavid picked up assists on all three Oilers goals, moving his league-leading point total to 82 through 47 games. The Oilers captain had 22 points in nine games against the Jets this season.
Hellebuyck made 25 saves on 27 Oilers shots in a losing effort. He started all five games on the homestand.
Koskinen made 29 saves on 30 shots for the Oilers in the win, his first start since April 7.
That win extends the Oilers’ (29-16-2) lead over Winnipeg (27-19-3) for second in the North Division to three points, Edmonton also has two games in hand.
The loss moves the Jets’ record to 11-11-2 on home ice this season.
Winnipeg will try to put that homestand behind them as they kick off a three-game road trip in Montreal on Friday. You can listen to the game live on 680 CJOB with Kelly Moore, Paul Edmonds and Jamie Thomas with the pregame show starting at 4 p.m. and puck drop just after 6 p.m,
