The Winnipeg Jets came into this game hoping to rebound after a lackluster effort against the Los Angeles Kings the other night, but they fell short against the Golden Knights, losing 4-3.

Tonights game marked the seventh straight regular season defeat for the Jets against the Knights, and if you include the first round playoff defeat in 2023, Winnipeg is now 1-11 in their last 12 games against the Golden Knights.

The Jets entered this game having failed to open the scoring in their last three games. However, they would break that trend when Cole Perfetti made it 1-0 at 6:57. Perfetti tipped in a shot from the top of the left circle, set up by Josh Morrissey after Nikolaj Ehlers danced through the Knights and fed him the puck. It must have been such a huge sigh of relief for Perfetti, who scored his first goal in 11 games. Morrissey also picked up his 19th assist of the season, while Ehlers earned his 16th.

Vegas, however, would capitalize on a terrible turnover by Morgan Barron. Brett Howden stole the puck, outskated Logan Stanley to break away, and beat Eric Comrie to score his 9th goal of the season, tying the game 1-1 at 18:13. That simple mistake by Barron was heartbreaking, especially after the Jets sustained so much pressure on the Knights, keeping them in their own end. You just know Barron was kicking his skates against the boards on the bench after that.

But Vegas wasn’t done yet. Just 1:26 later, Ivan Barbashev gave the Knights a 2-1 lead in the dying seconds of the first period. He capitalized on a huge rebound off a shot by Pavel Dorofeyev, beating Eric Comrie for his 11th goal of the season. This one stung the Jets, especially heading into the intermission.

This was yet another period in which the Jets were heavily outshot. They finished the period with just 6 shots, compared to the Golden Knights’ 14, as Vegas dominated much of the first period.

The Jets picked up the pace in the second period, creating plenty of chances off the rush. However, Vegas had more dangerous opportunities, forcing Eric Comrie to put on a clinic with some spectacular saves to keep the Knights’ score at 2.

Speaking of fast, Cole Perfetti was quick tonight, as he scored once again to tie the game 2-2. The play began with a 3-on-2, and Josh Morrissey perfectly placed a shot off the left pad of Adin Hill. Hill kicked the rebound right to Perfetti, who made no mistake, putting it past Hill for his second goal of the game. Morrissey collected his second assist of the night.

Perfetti would be the only goal-getter in the second period.

One thing to note from the second was that Nikolaj Ehlers appeared to be injured. Early on in one of the Jets power plays, Ehlers had ran into Pavel Dorofeyev and seemed to get the worst of the collision. As he got up he slammed his stick in frustration and appeared to be favouring his left leg/knee. Ehlers then briefly sat on the bench until eventually went down the tunnel with one of the staff.

Shots after the second period were 9-7 in favour of the Jets.

The Jets turned on the jets, coming out flying in the first two minutes of the period. The third line fired shot after shot at Adin Hill, but he denied everything that came his way.

Despite all the pressure from Winnipeg, Vegas regained the lead, making it 3-2 after an amazing setup pass by Jack Eichel to Ivan Barbashev, who scored his second goal of the night at 4:43. Eichel picked up his second assist of the night, and his 28th of the season.

The back-and-forth play would continue. Then Neal Pionk would score his 4th of the season, after he unloaded a heavy wrist shot from the point that somehow beat Adin Hill glove side, tying the game 3-3 at 8:55.

Unfortunately for the Jets, at 15:55 of the third period, Vegas regained the lead. Brett Howden scored his second goal of the evening, capitalizing on a backhand cross-crease pass from William Karlsson. Karlsson picked up his 7th assist of the season, while Shea Theodore recorded his 17th.

The Jets were gifted a power play with 2:44 left in the third period when Brayden McNabb tripped up Mark Scheifele. Despite all the pressure the Jets put on the Knights, Vegas held on to hand Winnipeg their second straight loss and their third in the last five games.

Eric Comrie stopped 26 of 30 shots, earning a .868 save percentage, while Adin Hill faced 25 shots, stopping 22 for a .880 save percentage.

I thought the Jets played a much better game compared to the other night in Los Angeles, where they only had 14 shots on goal, compared to tonight’s 25. Defensively, I think they need to be a lot better. There were several instances where they got stuck in their own zone because they failed to clear the puck. Offensively, we had our chances, especially in the final minute of the third period, but Adin Hill and the Knights’ defensive play prevented us from turning those chances into high-danger scoring opportunities. The one bright spot offensively was Cole Perfetti, who scored twice and finished the game as a +1. Eric Comrie definitely wasn’t an issue; in fact, he was often the reason the score was as close as it was.

The real concern, though, is Nikolaj Ehlers, who left the ice favoring his left leg and did not return. Jets fans will surely be keeping a close eye on any updates regarding the Danish forward.

The Jets will now travel to Dallas to concluded their longest road trip this season against the Stars on December 1st. Puck drop for that game will be at 3:30 pm CT and you can watch the game on TSN3.