The Winnipeg Jets ended a nine-game winless streak with one of the most extraordinary victories in NHL history on Tuesday.
With less than three minutes left in a match against the Montreal Canadiens, the Jets found themselves down 4-0. The game concluded with a 5-4 victory in overtime, highlighted by Dylan Samberg scoring the decisive goal. According to ESPN, this marks the most recent four-goal comeback in NHL records.
The prior record was held by the 2007-08 Los Angeles Kings, who started their comeback with 7:14 on the clock.
Tyrel Bauer netted the Jets’ first goal with just 2:38 remaining in the third period. Morgan Barron followed up with a second goal at 1:57 left. Kyle Connor then narrowed the gap to one goal with a tally at 1:00 remaining. An Alexandre Carrier tripping penalty then gave Winnipeg a power play opportunity, which Connor capitalized on with 33 seconds left, taking the game into overtime.
There’s no denying the severe blow to the Canadiens. This Jets team was coming off a record of 4-8-3 going into the game. They were in the midst of a nine-game winless streak and had lost their prior match 7-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes just the previous Sunday. Additionally, this Jets team had recently traded away its Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender less than two weeks prior.
The Canadiens not only relinquished a four-goal lead, but they also permitted the Jets’ fastest four-goal eruption since 1984, according to ESPN. Canadiens star Cole Caufield encapsulated the disappointment after the game, as reported by the Montreal Gazette:
“Some of us thought the game was over,” Caufield remarked. “We had a four-goal advantage. There’s no excuse for this. It’s awful.”
While the embarrassment is prominent, it’s important to acknowledge that the Canadiens have been missing captain Nick Suzuki for six consecutive games due to a hand injury.
