Jets fall to Red Wings, fail to gain in wild card race

WINNIPEG --The Winnipeg Jets lost their third straight game, 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday.

"Obviously we can't afford to lose games right now, and that's a game we shouldn't lose," Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "Just with their schedule and our desperation, they're playing on a back-to-back. It's frustrating. I think every guy knows that in the room. So that's the emotion."
Mark Scheifele scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves for Winnipeg (33-28-10), which trails the Dallas Stars by seven points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Dallas did not play Wednesday.
"I think we passed up some opportunities," Winnipeg coach Dave Lowry said. "We had some good looks where we passed up shots looking to make that next play, looking to make a pass. We had opportunities we created. The first period we deserved a better fate and they get a bounce and they end up scoring. And we did a lot of really good things, and what that did was gave them some life, gave them some momentum and gave them a reason to stick around."
Thomas Greiss made 32 saves for his first win since Feb. 17, Sam Gagner scored twice, and Dylan Larkin had two assists for the Red Wings (28-34-9).
"We've gotten really good goaltending," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "I thought Thomas allowed us to kind of get our legs tonight. We weren't skating during the first. I didn't think we were quick enough at all and I thought he allowed us to get our legs, and that's a huge thing."

Detroit was coming off a 5-3 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday after losing six straight.
"These are the games we haven't been good enough in," Blashill said. "When we've been good as a team it's when we've got our legs and everything kind of sets up and we're on top of people and we have great energy. It's these types of games that we've got to be better at."
Gagner gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 18:40 of the first period, scoring shorthanded on the rush off a pass from Larkin, who stole the puck from Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey. It was Gagner's 500th NHL point in his 956th game.
"Sam's been really good, but Sam's been really good in a lot of ways," Blashill said. "Sam's really turned himself into an accountable, 200-foot player. He's got good poise. He's really, really, really smart. He's very, very thoughtful as a person and he's also provided really good leadership."

Scheifele tied it 1-1 at 6:01 of the second, redirecting Nate Schmidt's point shot.
Blake Wheeler had a goal overturned for Winnipeg at 9:44 after Detroit challenged for offside.
"I think they get a couple of lucky breaks coming the other way," Jets forward Kyle Connor said. "No matter what it is -- we had good zone time, a lot chances -- it's still frustrating. We need to come out with a win. That's the bottom line. We need two points at this time of the year. It's tough."
Michael Rasmussen gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at 9:11 of the third period, tapping in a loose puck in the crease.
"I think everyone was kind of frustrated how things were going, obviously, and I think just as a group we decided to collectively get our heads down and work harder and try to come up with some results," Rasmussen said. "I think the past two games have been good for us and I think we've done just that. Top to bottom, everyone has had great efforts and we've come out with two wins."
Gagner made it 3-1 when he scored into an empty net at 19:23.

NOTES: It was Blashill's 200th NHL win. ... Greiss was 0-5-0 in his previous eight games (six starts). … Gagner has 501 NHL points (182 goals, 319 assists). … Rasmussen has scored a goal in three straight games and four goals in his past five. … Larkin has five points (two goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak. … Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers had an assist and has five points (two goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak. … Scheifele has four points (one goal, three assists) during a three-game point streak.