Ehlers nets overtime winner in Jets comeback victory over Sens

OTTAWA - The words "Stay in the Fight" have been a common slogan for a few seasons around the Winnipeg Jets dressing room, but each season, a new identity needs to be formed - even if the slogan is the same.
Tuesday's come-from-behind overtime win over the Ottawa Senators may have just engrained that slogan into the 2020-21 version of the Jets.
It didn't come easy. It took a Blake Wheeler game-tying goal with 1:17 to go in regulation and Nikolaj Ehlers' first career overtime winner to make it happen, but those plays were also the team's reward for staying in the fight.
It's two points in the standings, but worth much more in the dressing room.

"The late comeback wins have a really nice impact on your team. You carry those for a number of games. You always feel you have a chance," said Maurice, adding his bench was saying the right things even when down 3-1.
"That's the most important piece for any team. The score on the clock doesn't dictate your effort level or compete level. Maybe more important than all of it, your belief. That's the foundation that's most important to our team."

Along with Ehlers and Wheeler finding twine, Adam Lowry potted his first of the season and Kyle Connor added his third in three games to open the campaign.
It was a hard-earned victory that Ehlers was proud of.
"It shows we don't give up," said Ehlers. "We find ways, we work hard to stay in the game and give ourselves the chance to score that tying goal and get ourselves a chance to get two points."
It was an uphill climb the whole way, with the Jets trailing by scores of 2-0 and 3-1 before mounting the comeback.
Still, captain Blake Wheeler - who finished with a goal and an assist, giving him 499 career assists - felt the team was much better on this night than on Monday in Toronto.
"We watched some video this morning and it wasn't the way we wanted to play the game," said Wheeler. "It didn't fit into the culture we've established here in Winnipeg. Just some of the nuances - staying connected on the ice, helping each other out, giving each other easy outs - just little things that make things easier for everyone. We were much better in that area tonight."

Wheeler often says the first period in a back-to-back is the toughest. He was proven right yet again on this night.
The Jets were outshot 10-1 in the opening five minutes with Josh Norris scoring his first career NHL goal 4:41 into the period and Chris Tierney adding to the lead just under six minutes later.
Laurent Brossoit, getting his first start since the NHL went on pause in March of 2020, saw shots coming from everywhere.
"I usually like to get a lot of action early to get me into it. I usually like a bit more rest between shots than that, but it got me in the game," said Brossoit, who finished with 38 saves.
"We're not a team that gives up after we get down. If anything, it motivates us it seems."
With 1:51 left in the opening period. Andrew Copp won an offensive zone draw that led to Neal Pionk sending a wrist shot toward the Ottawa net. Lowry got a stick on the shot near his shoulder level, causing the puck to drop and sail by a screened Matt Murray.

Penalties would cost the Jets in the second period. Sami Niku's second consecutive minor penalty of the middle frame led to Alex Galchenyuk pounding a one-timer off the bar and past Brossoit, restoring Ottawa's two-goal lead at 3-1.
Winnipeg cashed in on a power play chance of their own with 3:48 to go in the period. Connor finished off a cross crease pass from Wheeler, beating a diving Murray for his third goal in as many games.
"He hasn't had a lot go for him around the net. The chances he's generating or getting, he could have twice of what he has," said Maurice.
"He's scratching the surface here. He hasn't been lucky in this start, but he's putting up great numbers."
Maurice kept Connor with Wheeler and Mark Scheifele as the Jets continued to pressure the Senators for the equalizer. Their efforts paid off with 1:17 to go and with Brossoit pulled for an extra skater.
Morrissey's point shot was deflected by Wheeler on the way to a screened Murray, beating the Ottawa goaltender and rewarding the Jets for outshooting Ottawa 10-8 in the final frame.

The extra point in overtime was up for grabs. In a tight North Division, every point counts.
"When you look at the teams that are playing in the Canadian division, this is coming down to the last week - and that includes Ottawa," said Maurice.
"Staying in the fight, the most important thing over this schedule, we're coming into a heavy piece of this. Getting two points tonight, certainly the one that tied it, was really important for us."
Near the halfway mark of overtime, Copp sent a saucer pass to a streaking Ehlers cutting down the middle of the ice in the Ottawa zone. The pass was right on the tape and Ehlers made no mistake, burying his first of the year to seal the win.
Although, he sarcastically disputed that it was the first NHL overtime winner he's ever scored.
"My first year here, an own goal against Colorado," Ehlers deadpanned.
"Personally it's very nice to not just get one in OT, but get the first of the year and try to keep it going from there. We battled our asses off to stay in the game and get a chance to get the tying goal to get us a point or two. It feels good to have the two points and I look forward to the next game."