Jets defeat Blue Jackets in OT in Laine return to Winnipeg

WINNIPEG -- Patrik Laine did not score in his first game back in Winnipeg, and the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime at Canada Life Centre on Friday.

Laine, who was traded by the Jets to the Blue Jackets on Jan. 23, 2021, finished with four shots on goal and had three shots blocked in 20:20 of ice time. He scored 250 points (140 goals, 110 assists) in 306 games in five seasons with the Jets.
"It was obviously a special night to come back and obviously two points would've been more fun, but we'll take one this time," Laine said. "Overall, I think it was a pretty tight game, but we just couldn't finish at the end."
Nikolaj Ehlers scored his 20th goal of the season on a breakaway 21 seconds into overtime to win it for Winnipeg.
"I like the five-hole," Ehlers said. "I did a couple shoulder checks there. I just didn't want to come in with too much speed, and that's why I kind of let up there a little bit. That's why I was checking to see where [the defenseman] was at."

Blake Wheeler appeared to give the Jets a 4-2 lead with 20 seconds left in the third period when he scored into an empty net, but the goal was nullified when defenseman Josh Morrissey was called for slashing Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly behind the play.
Oliver Bjorkstrand then tied it 3-3 with 14 seconds remaining, scoring on a rebound from a Zach Werenski point shot on the power play.
"[Facing Laine is] scary, for sure," Morrissey said. "When he gets a little time and space anywhere in the slot, you want to try to get there as fast as possible to take it away from him because we've always seen that for years. It's always weird playing against former teammates for the first time, [Jack Roslovic] and 'Patty'. But you definitely have to respect their ability and [Roslovic's] speed and quickness and 'Patty's' ability to score and beat you one-on-one."
Dominic Toninato had a goal and an assist, and Eric Comrie made 33 saves in his first start since March 10 for the Jets (31-25-10), who have won five of seven.
"I liked our response," Winnipeg coach Dave Lowry said. "I thought that we played a real solid game. We had a purpose, and it showed.
"Eric gives us an opportunity, just like [starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck]. They give us an opportunity to win hockey games and that's what the expectation is. You always like to see a guy who works as hard as Eric have success. I know that his teammates are extremely happy for him as well."
Brendan Gaunce and Adam Boqvist scored, and Elvis Merzlikins made 29 saves for the Blue Jackets (32-30-3), who have lost three of four.
"Our goal is to make sure we don't quit, and tonight we did that," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "[Merzlikins] made some good saves. I think he'd like the third one back. As far as the [overtime breakaway], Ehlers is a pretty good player. You'd love to have a save there if you can, but again, it's a breakaway. Generally, the shooters have the advantage, they have the puck, but he made some real key saves for us at key times."

Toninato gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 7:14 of the first period, tipping Brenden Dillon's point shot.
Kyle Connor scored his 41st goal of the season to make it 2-0 at 12:30 with a shorthanded breakaway. He has scored 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in a 10-game point streak.
"I liked the way that we committed to playing without the puck tonight," Lowry said. "I like the way that we played 200 feet and I like the way that we managed the puck through the neutral zone."
Boqvist cut it to 2-1 at 13:01 with a wrist shot from the point on the power play.
Gaunce tied it 2-2 at 3:22 of the second period after stealing the puck from Jets defenseman Logan Stanley and scoring with a wrist shot from the high slot.
"A big goal for us," Larsen said. "[Gaunce] gets one. I thought we had contributions all through our lineup. I've got no issues with how we played. We played hard tonight."
Morrissey put the Jets back in front 3-2 at 19:29 with a point shot on the power play.
"I think the second period we kind of gave them a little bit too much, and that kind of team, when you give them too much ice they're going to play with you," Laine said. "It wasn't the best game we've played, but I wouldn't say it was the worst either."
Laine, Roslovic and Blue Jackets assistant coach Pascal Vincent received a tribute to their time in Winnipeg on the video scoreboard in the first period.
"You don't know before what kind of welcome you're going to get and, yeah, I was pretty happy with mine," Laine said. "It was great to hear when everyone clapped their hands and cheered for all of us, so it was pretty cool."
Said Roslovic: "A little nervous energy. Just everyone around here, around the rink, the staff and the security and people that work here that I hadn't seen, so it was good to see them, and it was pretty normal right from the puck drop, so you try to get into it as best as you can."
NOTES:Jets forward Jansen Harkins left in the second period with an upper-body injury. Lowry says he will be evaluated Saturday. … Roslovic, who was part of the Laine trade, had an assist, three shots and three hits in 20:10. … Comrie has won each of his past five starts and is 8-2-1 this season. … Boqvist played 15:14 after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury. … Columbus forward Emil Bemstrom had an assist in his 100th NHL game. … Morrissey has scored four goals in his past six games. … Toninato had his first multipoint game in his 148-game NHL career. … Winnipeg forward Zach Sanford had an assist, his first point in three games since he was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Monday. … Jets forward Adam Lowry had three shots and five hits in 13:56 after missing three games in NHL COVID-19 protocol. … The Jets lost 5-2 to the Senators on Thursday.