Jets rally in third, extend Panthers’ tough stretch

Cole Perfetti and Marc Scheifele scored third-period goals as the Winnipeg Jets rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday at Sunrise, Fla.

Down 1-0 after totaling just 16 shots on goal through the first two periods, the Jets were able to tie the contest with 11:26 remaining. Amid some needed pressure from the visitors, Gabriel Vilardi crashed the net with the puck, and Perfetti was in perfect position to put in the rebound of Sergei Bobrovsky's initial stop.

With 4:14 to play in regulation, Winnipeg went ahead. Beginning with Gustav Nyquist bringing the puck into the Florida zone, the veteran got it to the left wing for Kyle Connor, who sent a pass across the slot for a pursuing Scheifele to chip past Bobrovsky (19 saves).

Eric Comrie was solid while making 27 saves to win his third consecutive start, and the Jets held on as they attempt to return to playoff position in the Western Conference. Winnipeg entered with two wins in its previous seven games.

Dealing with injuries most of the season and minus key contributors Brad Marchand (lower-body injury) and Anton Lundell (upper-body injury), Florida managed only a first-period goal while losing its third in a row after winning three straight. Like Winnipeg out west, the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers are also outside of playoff position in the East.

Amid a 1-4-0 rut at home, Florida recorded the game's opening goal with 5:20 remaining in the first. Seconds after its power play ended, Evan Rodrigues sent the puck toward the net and Eatu Luostarinen was in the right place to redirect it home.

Winnipeg failed to convert any of its three power-play chances in the opening period. In the second, the Jets managed just seven shots on goal, but that included its best scoring chance up to that point, but Bobrovsky made a brilliant glove stop on Connor's net-front backhander.