Kyle Connor scores winner for Jets in 3-2 pre-season win over Flames
The Winnipeg Jets prevailed 3-2 over the Calgary Flames in Friday's final dress rehearsal for the NHL regular season for both clubs.
Kyle Connor scored the late game-winner after a hard push by the Flames to tie the game early in the third.
Both clubs expressed satisfaction with her performances in their pre-season finales, although the Jets could feel more content having beaten the Flames in two straight games to go home with a 3-2-1 pre-season record.
"We definitely accomplished what we set out in pre-season here to feel ready and touch on all aspects of the game," Connor said.
"There's a lot of new system stuff as well, power play, PK, and we're going to continue to build on that."
Nino Niederreiter scored his third goal in two games and Colin Miller also scored for the Jets.
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 32 shots in his third game of the pre-season.
His Flames counterpart Dan Vladar made 14 saves in his fourth appearance.
Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund scored their first goals of the pre-season for Calgary, which went 5-2-1 in tune-ups.
Both rosters resembled opening-day lineups, although the Flames rested winger Blake Coleman and newly-signed defenceman Tyson Barrie.
Niederreiter also scored twice in a 5-2 win over the visiting Flames on Wednesday.
"It's great to get on the board in pre-season," said Niederreiter. "Hopefully that carries over to the regular season, but I mean I'm trying to go to the net and a get a greasy goal and glad it went in again."
Miller scored three goals in three pre-season games.
Calgary trailed 2-0 after two sluggish periods, but brought more spark to start the third when Huberdeau and Backlund struck in a span of three minutes 23 seconds.
The Flames outshot Winnipeg 13-2 in the first 10 minutes of the third period, but Connor gathered a loose puck off an offensive-zone draw and beat Vladar from a sharp angle at 16:51.
Connor then took a holding penalty with 92 seconds left in the game, but the Flames couldn't generate an equalizer.
"I thought we were really good at controlling the middle of the ice and not giving a good rush team a lot of room, so that's something that makes me feel pretty good about," Flames head coach Ryan Huska said.
"We didn't get the result we wanted tonight. We probably deserved better. I know that doesn't mean anything at the end of the day, but I feel like our checking details were really good tonight."
Winnipeg held Calgary's power play to 0-for-5 while going scoreless on a pair of chances with a man advantage. The Jets blocked 14 shots Calgary's six.
"It's great to see in pre-season. It really carries over to regular," Niederreiter said.
Backlund and Huberdeau scored goals on redirections at 4:27 and 1:04 respectively in the third period.
The visitors led 2-0 at 15:59 of the second when Miller threaded a shot through traffic from the blue line to beat Vladar.
Niedererreiter took advantage of a complete Calgary defensive-zone breakdown with ample time to go forehand-backhand upstairs on Vladar at 14:48 of the first period.
UP NEXT:
Both clubs start their regular seasons on the road Wednesday. The Flames are in Vancouver to face the Canucks. The Jets meet the Oilers in Edmonton.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India trashes Canada for linking home minister to Sikh activist plot
India officially protested on Saturday the Canadian government's allegation that the country's powerful home minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada, calling it 'absurd and baseless.'
Danielle Smith facing leadership review Saturday to close out UCP convention
Some 6,000 United Conservative Party members are in Red Deer for the party's annual convention and will cast their votes today on what they think of Premier Danielle Smith's leadership so far.
Local sheriff asks FBI to investigate death of Black man found hanging in Alabama
The FBI is investigating the death of a Black man in Alabama, who was found hanging in an abandoned house, following a request from a local sheriff amid fears among community members who accuse local law enforcement of longstanding, unchecked misconduct.
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.
Man says it's 'surreal' that officials euthanized pet squirrel Peanut
A man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state's decision to seize and euthanize the animal 'won't go unheard.'
The impact of Trump's lies in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio was once a manufacturing hub. Now, people know it for Trump's comments at September's presidential debate, when he famously - and falsely - told an audience of 67 million people that Haitians eat their pets, echoing claims that had circulated on social media.
Americans in Canada cast ballot ahead of U.S. election
Stephen Winters says watching the U.S. election campaign from Canada as a dual citizen is like a parent watching their kid play sports.
Iran's supreme leader threatens Israel, U.S. with 'a crushing response' over Israeli attack
Iran's supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with 'a crushing response' over attacks on Iran and its allies.
Kamala Harris slams GOP on manufacturing as she and Donald Trump hunt for votes on final weekend
Kamala Harris on Saturday criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for suggesting that Republicans might cut government subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing as she and Republican Donald Trump embarked on one last weekend quest to round up every possible vote in the battleground states that will determine the next president.