It was a back and forth affair as the Jets downed the Panthers 4-3. After a slow build to the game it ended with an absolute frenzy as there were three goals scored in the final five minutes. The Jets scored the go ahead goal three separate times, but the Panthers kept scoring the equalizer shortly after. The Jets finally managed to hold the lead in the third even after Florida managed a goal with the net empty. It was a strong effort all around as the Jets begin their road trip with a victory.

The Jets came out flying with a dangerous first shift that saw both Laine and Scheifele have phenomenal chances in the first 30 seconds of the game. Neither player was able to convert  and the game quickly settled in as both teams found their legs. Despite the few early chances, the Jets found it difficult to get any shots for the rest of the period as they finished the first with only four shots on goal. Even though their attempts were almost even with Florida, they went into the first intermission being out shot 10-4.

With the game still tied at zero, both teams were looking for that elusive first goal. The Jets were able to find it early in the period as Scheifele found Morrissey on a cross-seam pass that caught Florida by surprise. Morrissey snapped it past the glove of Bobrovsky and the Jets took the lead.

The lead was fairly short-lived as the Jets took their second penalty of the game midway through the period. Kulikov was sent off for tripping after he got caught behind the play and hauled his man down.

Despite the Jets killing the first penalty, they weren’t able to kill the second as Barkov shoveled home a rebound after getting some traffic in front of Brossoit.

Neither team was able to score for the rest of the period although the Jets did have plenty of chances. Both Wheeler and Scheifele were stopped from the inner slot as Bobrovsky made a few nice saves.

The Jets were tested early in the third as they took their third penalty of the game. This time it was Jack Roslovic who got sent off for two minutes. The Panthers generated a few chances, but Brossoit stood tall and the Jets were able to kill it off.

It appeared that the successful kill gave the Jets some momentum as they came down the ice and scored on the next shift. Laine picked up his second assist of the game as he worked the puck into the circle where Ehlers was waiting. Ehlers let go a quick one-timer and it squeaked past Bobrovsky to give the Jets the lead once again.

The Jets and having a lead doesn’t mix as they gave up the tying goal a few minutes later. The goal against once again came from a scramble right in front of the net as both Poolman and Morrissey were laying on the ice. Trochek took advantage of the confusion and flipped the puck past Brossoit to tie the game.

As the third period moved along, it seemed as though the game would get settled in regulation. With both teams generating quality chances, it only takes one shot to make a difference. Near the end of the third, the Jets found that one shot as Laine made a beautiful pass across the crease after Bobrovsky let a rebound bounce in front of him. Scheifele made no mistake on the tap in as he gave the Jets the lead for the third time in the game.

With the recent trend being Florida scoring a quick equalizer, the Jets played a few really strong defensive shifts before they managed to score the insurance marker with three minutes to go in the game. It was a point shot by Poolman that got tipped in front of the net by Adam Lowry.

Things are never easy for Winnipeg and closing this one out was a real challenge. After going ahead 4-2, the Panthers scored a quick one with the goalie pulled.

There was still over a minute left in the game after Floriday scored to get within one. That left plenty of time for them to try and score the equalizer with six attackers on the ice. Luckily the Jets were able to close things out with a few really strong defensive shifts in their own end. Everyone can take a breath as the Jets come away with the 4-3 victory.

After getting shutout on Tuesday, the Jets did a much better job of getting traffic in front of the net. They scored off rebounds and tips and made Bobrovsky’s night really difficult. Laine was the major set up man tonight as he came away with three assists in the game.

It was a hat-trick for Patrik Laine tonight, although not in the traditional sense. Instead of three goals, he notched three assists as he contributed on the first three goals for Winnipeg. On two of those plays he had the primary assist as both Ehlers and Scheifele scored directly on a one-timer from Laine.

The Jets stay on the road but don’t have to go too far as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon. It’s a 3:00 PM puck drop and you can catch the action on TSN 3.