Jets recover, earn split with OT win against Canadiens

WINNIPEG --Nikolaj Ehlers scored 55 seconds into overtime, and the Winnipeg Jets recovered for a 4-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell MTS Place on Wednesday.

Ehlers won it on a rush after Connor Hellebuyck made the save on a redirection attempt by Jeff Petry in close.
"I already said thank you to [Hellebuyck]. He saved me a little there," Ehlers said. "I mean, I should have had it. But that's 3-on-3 right there, you get a big chance one way that usually ends up either in the net or it's going the other way for a big chance. So luckily today it went the right way for us."
Kyle Connor scored two goals for the second straight game, and Pierre-Luc Dubois had three assists for the Jets (18-9-2), who are 5-2-1 in their past eight games. Hellebuyck made 33 saves.
Winnipeg is 10-0-1 following a loss this season.
"Not losing two straight is just a testament to the leadership, kind of character we've got in the locker room," Connor said. "You get a little bitter, a little sour taste and everybody, if we lose a game, we know that next night we're coming out hard. Tonight, I thought overall, pretty good game. We let off the gas in the third period."

Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher each had a goal and an assist, and Carey Price made 26 saves for the Canadiens (13-8-8), who were coming off a 4-2 win here Monday.
"I saw a dedicated team I think that was hungry, that didn't accept to lose," Danault said. "I really appreciate the effort that the guys, we all did together. We all know the Jets are a really good team defensively, and we played really good defensively in the third and didn't give up anything. We're stronger, we're winning our battles, and we got a great -- a big point actually, but not enough."
Gallagher cut it to 3-2 at 5:58 of the third period when he tucked a shot five-hole following a face-off win by Danault, and Tyler Toffoli tied it 3-3 with 1:25 remaining on a one-timer from near the left post.
"I think the games where you're struggling a little bit, we've got to play smarter," Gallagher said. "I thought they were taking it to us. They played well, but we probably just made some mistakes. If we maybe simplify our game, give ourselves some time to settle ourselves into it, then we don't have to come back from two goals."

Blake Wheeler scored 50 seconds into the game to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.
"It starts with the first shift of the game, we can't get scored on," Canadiens defenseman Joel Edmundson said. "It sets us back right away. So we've got to be ready to go right from the drop of the puck."
Connor made it 2-0 at 15:46 of the first when he pushed the puck into an open net on a rebound.
Danault scored to make it 2-1 at 1:26 of the second period, but Connor made it 3-1 at 13:42 on another rebound.
"Our speed and getting on the D and using our sticks, it's one of our best assets," Connor said. "Making a lot of turnovers, once you get the puck, I think we just need to be in the right spots, supporting each other in that offensive zone. I think we did that pretty well tonight."
NOTES: Connor has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past eight games. … Winnipeg has not lost consecutive games in regulation since Feb. 22-23, 2020. … Toffoli has four points (three goals, one assist) in his past two games. … Jets forward Paul Stastny had the secondary assist on Wheeler's goal and has four points (two goals, two assists) on a four-game point streak. … Ehlers has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past five games.