Jets survive in Vancouver, Perfetti nets overtime winner
Cole Perfetti finished off a frantic night 1:37 into overtime, banking home a rebound to give the Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 road victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. It was a much-needed two points for a Jets club trying to build momentum after the Olympic break — and a reminder of how timely saves and second-chance finishing can swing tight games.
The winning play
A sustained Winnipeg forecheck forced the loose puck that set up the winner. Adam Lowry drove the zone and attempted a centering feed that trickled through; Perfetti was in the right spot, poked at the rebound and lifted it over the blocker for his seventh of the year — and his first career overtime goal. The finish came early in OT, when both teams were still feeling each other out, and rewarded Winnipeg’s net-front presence.
How the scoring unfolded
Vancouver struck first, less than two minutes into the game, when Drew O’Connor beat backup Eric Comrie after a Winnipeg turnover. The Jets answered before the first intermission: a Scheifele-initiated sequence freed Kyle Connor, who buried his 26th of the season to knot the game.
Early in the second, Elias Pettersson won a draw and set up Evander Kane for a quick shot that slipped past Comrie and put Vancouver back in front. Winnipeg then pressed for long stretches, outshooting the Canucks, and finally tied it late in the period when Mark Scheifele’s cross-ice feed was redirected by Gabriel Vilardi in front.
Key contributors
Offense came from several places. Connor and Vilardi scored for Winnipeg, while Scheifele finished with two assists and extended a productive run. Perfetti’s overtime strike capped a night in which he created a handful of prime chances and scored his third goal in four games.
On the other side, Nikita Tolopilo—making the start for Vancouver—stopped 25 and kept his team competitive throughout 60 minutes. Comrie, filling in for the absent Connor Hellebuyck, made several high-leverage saves, including a timely stop on a late Canucks rush that helped preserve the tie heading into OT.
Game flow and pivotal moments
Vancouver owned much of the third period, generating high-danger looks and sustained pressure. They hit the post and fashioned a dangerous 2-on-1, only to be denied by Comrie after a key backcheck. Winnipeg’s penalty kill also held firm late, allowing the Jets to absorb pressure and extend the game.
In overtime, Winnipeg outshot Vancouver 4-1. Comrie turned aside a tough chance right before Perfetti’s winner, underscoring how crucial tight goaltending was to the final result.
Roster context and absences
Winnipeg was without starter Connor Hellebuyck (still away after the Olympics) and defenseman Josh Morrissey (injury), which pushed depth players into bigger roles. Veterans responded: Scheifele drove play and Connor slid back into the top line seamlessly after returning from Olympic duty. Those depth performances proved decisive when the heavy minutes fell to non-starters.
What this means next
The win should give the Jets a confidence boost as they head into the next leg of a western road trip in Anaheim. Winnipeg will want to translate late-game success into more consistent results, and keep an eye on special teams and backup goaltending until Hellebuyck returns.
The winning play
A sustained Winnipeg forecheck forced the loose puck that set up the winner. Adam Lowry drove the zone and attempted a centering feed that trickled through; Perfetti was in the right spot, poked at the rebound and lifted it over the blocker for his seventh of the year — and his first career overtime goal. The finish came early in OT, when both teams were still feeling each other out, and rewarded Winnipeg’s net-front presence.0
The winning play
A sustained Winnipeg forecheck forced the loose puck that set up the winner. Adam Lowry drove the zone and attempted a centering feed that trickled through; Perfetti was in the right spot, poked at the rebound and lifted it over the blocker for his seventh of the year — and his first career overtime goal. The finish came early in OT, when both teams were still feeling each other out, and rewarded Winnipeg’s net-front presence.1