WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Gabriel Vilardi netted two crucial goals in the second period as the Winnipeg Jets secured their eighth straight victory, edging out the New York Islanders with a final score of 4-3 on Friday night.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo also contributed to the scoreboard for Winnipeg, with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele delivering two assists apiece. Winnipeg’s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, was instrumental, making 32 saves throughout the game.

For the Islanders, Kyle Palmieri, Marc Gatcomb, and Simon Holmstrom were the goal scorers, while Ilya Sorokin stopped 23 shots from reaching the net.

Holmstrom kicked off the game by scoring just over a minute in; however, Vilardi put Winnipeg back on even footing with a goal 4:23 into the second period, leveling the score at 2-2. He then tallied his second goal with 2:42 remaining in the period, pushing the Jets ahead 4-2.

Key Takeaways:

For the Jets, after a rough start in the first period, their offense surged in the second, outscoring the Islanders 3-1 and taking a solid lead. Meanwhile, the Islanders showed determination in the third period, narrowing the gap to one goal with about eight minutes remaining, putting pressure on the Jets.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Vilardi scored late in the second period, helping Winnipeg secure a crucial lead. This goal marked a personal milestone for Vilardi, as it was his 24th of the season, a career-best.

A significant stat to remember is that Hellebuyck was particularly effective during a tense third-period power play, stopping eight shots, including several exceptional saves while the Jets clung to a narrow one-goal lead.

Looking ahead, the Jets will take a break before their next match on February 22 against St. Louis. The Islanders, conversely, face the Minnesota Wild in their next game on Saturday night.