WINNIPEG 鈥� Brady Tkachuk scored the winning goal on the power play with 1:45 left in the game to give the Ottawa Senators a 3-2 victory over Winnipeg, sending the Jets deeper into their misery.
With Brenden Dillon in the penalty box for high-sticking, Tkachuk took a pass from Tim Stutzle and fired the puck, which deflected into the net past Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Jake Sanderson also assisted.
"Great keep by (Sanderson) and a great pass by Timmy,鈥� Tkachuk said. 鈥淚 was just trying to stay open and I think Drake (Batherson) was tying up the net-front defence. So, everybody contributed. (Jakob Chychrun) also had a part keeping it in, too. It鈥檚 great that everybody had a part in a big moment in a game like that.鈥�
Ridly Greig and Boris Katchouk also scored for the Senators.
Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers replied for Winnipeg.
Joonas Korpisalo made 26 saves for Ottawa (33-36-4). He made a desperate diving save on a shot by Scheifele that was heading toward his empty net late in the game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to battle with the guys in the last minutes there,鈥� Korpisalo said. 鈥淎nd finding a way to win, it鈥檚 even better. We are having fun, for sure.
鈥淚 feel good. As a whole team, we are on top of the league right now. And obviously, it helps everybody, individually.鈥�
The Senators extended their winning streak to five games.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not winning that game if not for Korpi and those big saves,鈥� Tkachuk said.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just the little things that everyone鈥檚 been doing, and you see the results that we鈥檝e had,鈥� Tkachuk said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to keep building, keep finishing strong and keep building on our momentum. 鈥� It鈥檚 been fun. We鈥檝e got to keep building, keep working and hopefully, this is one of many down the stretch and in the future.鈥�
Hellebuyck stopped 24 of 27 shots for Winnipeg (44-24-6) before their fourth straight sellout of 15,225 fans at Canada Life Centre. It was Winnipeg鈥檚 sixth consecutive loss.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how fine this game is,鈥� said Scheifele, who had tied the game 2-2 on the power play midway through the third period. 鈥淛ust little things that matter, especially at this time of the season. They put the pressure on all game long. (Hellebuyck) made some good saves. I wish we pushed a few more past them.鈥�
It was the third game of a five-game homestand for Winnipeg.
鈥淲e certainly need more from certain players, we do. Every team does,鈥� said frustrated Jets coach Rick Bowness. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e going through a (slide) like this, you just need more from everybody and we鈥檙e going to get that.
"We鈥檙e going to have to (have) a little bit more desperation from the start of the game and on. Again, we鈥檙e just finding ways (to lose). You take a late penalty, those things hurt you. We鈥檙e finding ways to lose games. We鈥檒l get going again. We鈥檒l find ways to win games.鈥�
Greig had taken advantage of some superb forechecking by Tkachuk when he grabbed a loose puck and put it in the net behind a fallen Hellebuyck to give Ottawa a 2-1 lead in the second period.
The Senators had tied the game at 1-1 when Katchouk converted a 4-on-1 into the open side of the net, thanks to a perfect pass from Erik Brannstrom. Mark Kastelic also had a helper.
The Jets opened the scoring just 1:58 into the second period as Ehlers pounced on a Sean Monahan rebound while on Korpisalo鈥檚 doorstep. Dylan DeMelo also assisted.
NOTES
Jets Gabe Vilardi returned after missing 15 games with an enlarged spleen. 鈥� Hellebuyck played in his 500th NHL game. Jets fans gave him a standing ovation when it was announced during the game. Hellebuyck saluted the fans in response.
UP NEXT
Jets: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
Senators: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2024.
Jim Bender, The Canadian Press
