Nikolaj Ehlers scored at 1:26 of overtime Thursday to help the Winnipeg Jets earn a 4-3 victory against the host Seattle Kraken and remain the lone undefeated team in the NHL.
Nino Niederreiter tallied twice and Gabriel Vilardi also scored for the Jets, who improved to 7-0-0. They have won 15 straight regular-season games dating to the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Kyle Connor extended his point streak to seven games with two assists, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves.
Matty Beniers moved back to Seattle’s top line, scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist for the Kraken, who rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final nine minutes of regulation to earn a point in the standings. Jordan Eberle also scored and Joey Daccord stopped 32 of 36 shots.
Ehlers got the winner on a delayed penalty call against the Kraken. His wrist shot from the high slot snuck between Daccord’s right arm and body and trickled over the goal line.
The Kraken tied it at 16:38 of the third as Beniers tipped Brandon Montour’s shot from the right post past Hellebuyck.
Eberle scored on a backhander at 11:01 of the third to pull the Kraken within a goal.
Niederreiter’s goal at 4:21 of the third period, just after a power play had expired, put the Jets up 3-1. Cole Perfetti threaded a pass through three players to Niederreiter, whose wrist shot from the high slot beat multiple defenders.
The Kraken outshot Winnipeg 12-7 in the first period and took a 1-0 lead on Beniers’ goal at 11:27. His wrist shot from just inside the top of the left faceoff circle beat Hellebuyck high to the blocker side.
The Jets tied the score at 3:56 of the second. Daccord made a blocker save on Mason Appleton’s screened shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, but the rebound deflected off Niederreiter’s midsection as the winger drove to the net and bounced the puck over the goal line.
Winnipeg moved in front on Vilardi’s goal at 15:05 of the second. Connor, skating back toward center ice, kept the puck in the offensive zone and got it to Mark Scheifele, who sent a pass to an unmarked Vilardi in front of the net. The forward maneuvered around Daccord and slid a forehander just inside the right post.
–Field Level Media
