Honestly, if you missed the game last night at Canada Life Centre, you missed one of the weirdest, most stressful, and eventually rewarding nights of the season.
The Winnipeg Jets score today reflects a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders, but that number doesn't even come close to telling the full story of what went down on Tuesday night. It was the kind of game that makes coaches lose their hair and fans reach for the Tylenol.
Winnipeg jumped out to a 3-0 lead. It looked like a blowout. Then, in a span of about three and a half minutes, the whole thing collapsed. The Islanders tied it 3-3, the building went quiet, and it felt like another "here we go again" moment for a team that has struggled with consistency this year.
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Breaking Down the 5-4 Thriller
Kyle Connor got things moving early, as he usually does. He pounced on a rebound just 4:20 into the first period. When Josh Morrissey and Jonathan Toews (yes, he's still making an impact) scored back-to-back early in the second, the lead felt safe.
It wasn't.
The Islanders roared back. Anthony Duclair started the surge, and then Emil Heineman beat Connor Hellebuyck on a penalty shot. Before anyone could process that, Kyle MacLean tied it up. Basically, the Jets fell asleep for four minutes, and it almost cost them the game.
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Dylan DeMelo finally broke the deadlock at 12:23 of the second with a screened shot from the blue line. But the real "exhale" moment came when Adam Lowry—the captain doing captain things—deflected a Neal Pionk shot with just 20 seconds left in the middle frame. That 5-3 cushion was just enough to survive a late push by the Isles, including a 6-on-5 goal by Matthew Schaefer with 46 seconds left on the clock.
Winning Ugly is Still Winning
The Jets didn't exactly dominate the stat sheet. They were actually outshot 27-22 by New York. Connor Hellebuyck had to be sharp, making 23 saves, including a couple of high-danger stops in the third period when the Islanders were pressing for the equalizer.
This win marks three in a row for Winnipeg. It also closes out their five-game homestand with a respectable 3-1-1 record. For a team that has been hovering around the .500 mark (now 18-22-5), stacking wins like this is the only way to claw back into the playoff conversation.
What the Experts are Saying
Judy Owen from The Canadian Press noted that the Jets' ability to "storm back" after blowing a three-goal lead showed some much-needed mental toughness. Usually, when a team gives up three goals that quickly, the wheels come off entirely.
Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi both picked up assists, showing that the top six is clicking, but it was the secondary scoring from guys like DeMelo and Lowry that actually secured the points. If the Jets want to keep this streak alive, they can't just rely on Kyle Connor to do everything.
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Where Do the Jets Go From Here?
The celebration has to be short. The team is heading out on the road immediately.
Their next test is a massive Central Division rivalry game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night (January 15). Minnesota is always a tough out at the Grand Casino Arena, and with the standings as tight as they are, those four-point games are basically mini-playoff matchups.
If you're tracking the Winnipeg Jets score today to see if they’re turning a corner, the answer is "maybe." They are playing better, but the defensive lapses that allowed New York back into the game need to be cleaned up. You can't give up three goals in under four minutes against the elite teams in the West and expect to win.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Replay: If you can, find the highlights of the second period. The momentum shifts were insane.
- Update Your Calendar: The Jets play the Wild on Thursday at 7:00 PM CST.
- Monitor the Standings: With 41 points, Winnipeg is starting to close the gap on the wildcard spots, but they need to keep this momentum through the weekend series against Toronto.