Thursday night against the Florida Panthers was much like the previous two games for the Winnipeg Jets: low-event and low-scoring tilts. While the pace picked up in the third period and overtime, the Panthers managed to hang on for a 2-1 shootout victory. Winnipeg drops to 20-23-7 and now sits six points back of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

The first 40 minutes were fairly tame until Florida broke the ice with just 1:11 left to play in the second period. The Panthers gained possession off an offensive-zone faceoff, and Matthew Tkachuk found Sam Bennett open near the top of the left circle. Bennett wired it over Connor Hellebuyck’s shoulder for his 18th of the campaign, with Tkachuk recording his first point of the season on the play.

After 40 minutes, the Jets had fired just 12 shots on goal over their last three periods, including the third period of their previous game, where they registered only one goal (an empty-netter) on two shots.

At 5:24 of the third period, Jonathan Toews made a strong play by stripping Uvis Balinskis of the puck before finding Cole Perfetti cutting to the net. Perfetti beat Daniil Tarasov, who was sliding in the opposite direction, on his backhand for his fourth of the season, tying the game 1-1.

After 60 minutes solved nothing, the two teams headed to overtime.

Winnipeg’s best chance to end it came when Josh Morrissey, looking to tie Dustin Byfuglien for the most points by a defenceman in franchise history (416), charged down the middle of the ice and rang a shot off the crossbar. Overtime again solved nothing, sending the game to a shootout.

Anton Lundell scored in the first round, while Sam Reinhart ended it in round two after Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele were unable to beat Tarasov, giving Florida the extra point.

Winnipeg will wrap up its three-game homestand Saturday night when they face the Detroit Red Wings for the final time this season. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. CST on Sportsnet West.