CALGARY, Alberta — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, the Winnipeg Jets achieved their eighth consecutive victory to start the NHL season by defeating the Calgary Flames 5-3. Both Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton contributed significantly with a goal and an assist each, while Nikolaj Ehlers, Dylan Samberg, and Cole Perfetti also found the back of the net for Winnipeg. This win marks the Jets’ 16th straight regular-season victory, extending back to the previous season, a remarkable achievement that has only been reached by three teams in league history: the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins (17 wins), the 2023-24 Edmonton Oilers (16), and the 2016-17 Columbus Blue Jackets (16).
On the other hand, the Flames managed to score through Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson, and Nazem Kadri, but they faced challenges as this marked their second consecutive loss following a strong start to the season where they held a franchise-best record of 5-0-1.
### Key Takeaways
For the Jets, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck received a well-deserved night off, allowing Eric Comrie to step in for his second start of the season. Although Comrie faced some difficulty, allowing goals from sharp angles on Backlund and Andersson’s shots, he performed solidly for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, for the Flames, the highly anticipated season debut of left-winger Yegor Sharangovich, who had been sidelined for the first seven games due to an upper-body injury, did little to revive Calgary’s struggling power play, which went 0-for-4, managing only a single shot on goal. Furthermore, the Flames allowed a short-handed goal, compounding their difficulties.
### Pivotal Moment
A crucial moment occurred in the third period when the game was knotted at 3-3. The Flames successfully killed off a 90-second, two-man advantage, thanks to six saves by goaltender Dustin Wolf. However, shortly afterward, a slashing penalty in the offensive zone provided the Jets another opportunity on the power play. This time, they capitalized as Cole Perfetti fired a shot that deflected off Wolf’s blocker, putting Winnipeg ahead.
### Significant Stat
Notably, the Jets’ power play has been highly effective, rising from a 22nd-place ranking last season to the top spot in the league entering Saturday’s game. Against the Flames, they converted 2 out of 4 opportunities, bringing their season total to 10 out of 23 attempts.
### Upcoming Games
Looking ahead, the Jets are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, while the Flames will take on the Vegas Golden Knights on the same day.