The Winnipeg Jets returned from the Christmas break to battle the Ottawa Senators at Canada Life Centre on Dec 28th, hoping to add to their two-game win streak and maintain their first place position in the NHL standings.

Neither team would come out looking like they had too much turkey over the Christmas break as they played with exceptional pace throughout the first period.

Ottawa would break the goose egg halfway through the first period on the power play. Senators forward Tim Stutzle was left wide open by the side of the net and easily put home a Drake Batherson cross-crease pass past Connor Hellebuyck.

The Senators would find themselves on the man-advantage again after Gabriel Vilardi would serve a double minor high sticking penalty. Halfway through the double minor, Ridly Greig deflected in a Thomas Chabot point shot to double the lead to 2-0.

The first period would wrap up with Ottawa leading 2-0 and the shots being tied 8-8.

The Jets would get one past Senators goaltender Mads Sogaard, at 12:46 to cut the lead to 2-1. Winnipeg’s first line, which combined for 11 points in their previous game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 23rd, converted when Kyle Connor rifled home a shot from between the hash marks after receiving a Mark Scheifele pass from behind the net. Scheifele’s assist was a nifty one as he passed the puck to himself off the end boards in a successful evasive maneuver.

Just 2:15 later, Scheifele would earn himself a goal of his own, chipping a backhander past Sogaard’s blocker short side, on a partial breakaway. Ehlers would get the primary assist, almost as fancy as Scheifele’s was to set up Connor’s goal earlier. Ehlers would chip it up to Scheifele from the neutral zone, leading to the goal.

The second period would conclude with both teams knotted up 2-2. Ottawa would lead the charge in shots 18-15.

The Senators generated a couple good chances early in the third and then received a fourth power play when Jets defenceman Ville Heinola was called for tripping. However, the Jets killed it off and their first line continued to be a threat, pinning the Senators down in the offensive zone. Eventually, Sogaard took a tripping minor of his own during a scramble.

On the ensuing power play, Vilardi, in his go-to position in front of the net, one-timed in an Ehlers cross-crease pass to put the Jets in front 3-2.

Ehlers then would find the back of the net when the Senators were way too passive defensively, backing up way too soon, which allowed Ehlers to casually enter the offensive zone and snipe a shot past Sogaard to double the Jets lead at 8:41. Logan Stanley would collect the lone assist on the goal,

The Jets would hold on to defeat Ottawa 4-2, despite being manhandled in the shot department 35-23.

If you’re one of the people criticizing the Jets for their inconsistent first period and the 2-0 deficit, take a moment to recognize why they’re sitting atop the NHL. This team knows how to win, whether it’s by digging themselves out of a hole, like they did against the Senators, or by dominating opponents, as they did against Minnesota just a week ago.

Good teams find a way to win in any situation, and tonight was a perfect example of that. Yes, the first period was messy, but the Jets stepped up when it mattered. Specifically, the top line was huge, contributing 3 of the 4 goals. That’s what star players do, they make the big plays when needed.

This was a gutsy win against a Senators team that’s been playing well lately. Now, the Jets need to build on this performance as they head into Monday’s game against Nashville.

The Jets will now get some rest as they welcome the Nashville Predators to town on Dec. 30th. Puck drop will be at 6:30 p.m. CT, and it will be available to watch on Amazon Prime.