After a 0-3-0 record and just 2 goals over the past 180 minutes of hockey, the Jets left California as they continued their season long six game Western road trip tonight in Vancouver. The now 9-6-0 Jets took on the 8-8-1 Canucks at Rogers Arena, looking to reset and forget about the three games they played in California. The Canucks have had an average start to the season, and they’ve so far been one of those teams that look to be stuck in the “middle” of standings as they continue to play with a lengthy injury report. Tonight, the Jets had to battle back from a one goal deficit in the 1st, but after gaining the lead they never looked back and held on for a win, ending their 3 game losing streak.

Despite three straight losses, the Jets lineup appeared on paper the same as last game. The 1st line stayed the same, and Cole Perfetti, Jonathan Toews and Vladislav Namestnikov formed the 2nd line. The 3rd line featured Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry and Alex Iafallo. Parker Ford centered line 4 alongside Nikita Chibrikov and Tanner Pearson. Gustav Nyquist, Morgan Barron and Dylan Samberg all skated on Sunday in yellow non-contract jerseys.

The Jets defence pairings remained the same, and Connor Hellebuyck got the start in goal. Hellebuyck entered tonight’s game with a 6-5-0 record, a 2.29 GAA and a .922 SV%. Tonight, Hellebuyck was fantastic, doing everything he needed to do in order to help the Jets get the victory in Vancouver.

Tonight’s game started off with a good pace, and it was the Jets who would open the scoring 5 minutes into the game. After a failed clearing attempt by the Canucks, Cole Perfetti found Josh Morrissey at the point. Morrissey’s slap shot was deflected in front by Jonathan Toews, scoring his 3rd of the season to give the Jets an early 1-0 lead.

The Canucks tied the game 5 minutes later. Quinn Hughes entered the Jets zone, and a nice drop pass followed by a give and go with Kiefer Sherwood was snapped into the net past Hellebuyck to make it a 1-1 game.

One minute later, Dylan DeMelo took the first penalty of the game, a tripping call on Elias Pettersson. The Canucks didn’t waste much time on their first powerplay of the night. Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes set up Jake DeBrusk. Entering the Jets zone, DeBrusk fired a perfect wrist shot past Hellebuyck to give the Canucks a 2-1 lead.

The Jets got their first powerplay of the night around 2 minutes later after Elias Pettersson was called for tripping on Alex Iafallo. With the Jets powerplay struggles as of late, this was a great chance to end those struggles and tie the game. It didn’t take much time, and after another failed clearing attempt by the Canucks (this time one it was really one that should have been cleared), Morrissey collected the puck, and after moving a little to the right he slapped the puck into the net to make it a 2-2 game.

Only 15 seconds later, the Jets took a 3-2 lead. Alex Iafallo and Adam Lowry set up Nino Niederreiter from behind the net, and right on the doorstep Niederreiter deflected the puck past Thatcher Demko.

Now with a lead, the Jets settled things down and took a 3-2 lead into the 1st intermission. Shots on goal were 12-8 for the Canucks, as Hellebuyck stood tall in net to help the Jets battle back in this game after it was 2-1 Canucks.

The 2nd period saw no goals, but it was still an entertaining period of hockey. Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko was injured towards the end of the 1st period, so backup Kevin Lankinen swapped in to start the 2nd period. Lukas Reichel took a hooking call 1 minute into the 2nd, but the Jets were unable to get a two goal lead with this opportunity.

Six minutes after the penalty ended, Quinn Hughes took another Canucks hooking penalty, sending the Jets back to the powerplay. On this penalty Quinn Hughes hurt his arm or shoulder and left the game, but he later returned a few minutes later after his penalty was over. The score stayed at 3-2, and Logan Stanley took an interference penalty with around 7 minutes left in the 2nd.

Connor Hellebuyck made some great saves throughout the 2nd period, including on the Canucks only powerplay in the 2nd. With 1 minute left in the 2nd Drew O’Connor took a high-sticking penalty, meaning the Jets would still have 1 minute of powerplay time to start the 3rd. Shots on goal in the 2nd period were 13-10 for the Jets, highlighting the great play of Lankinen and Hellebuyck in this scoreless 2nd period. Haydn Fleury went down the tunnel with an injury, meaning the Jets would be down a defenceman for the time being as they awaited an update.

The Jets powerplay finally looked more like its 2024-25 version tonight. Josh Morrissey and Kyle Connor set up Gabriel Vilardi in the middle of the slot, and Vilardi turned around and fired a rising wicked backhand shot that went top corner past Lankinen to give the Jets a 4-2 lead just 0:48 into the 3rd.

Minutes later, the Canucks came as close as you could get to making it a 4-3 game, but Hellebuyck found a way to cover the puck just before it crossed the line. Both teams continued to push for that next ever so important goal, and the shots on goal were tied at 26 with 8 minutes left.

The Canucks pulled the goalie with about 2 1/2 minutes left, trying for a late comeback. Vilardi missed a chance at the empty net, and seconds later the Canucks made it a 4-3 game with 90 seconds left. Brock Boeser gave Canucks fans some hope late, but with 46 seconds left Alex Iafallo, who was playing in his 600th career NHL game, got a chance with the net empty and made no mistake. The Jets held on to win 5-3, despite the Canucks outshooting the Jets 33-30. The Jets 3 game losing streak is over, as it was a well-rounded team effort for a full 60 minutes tonight.

The Jets six game road trip now goes back to America, as the Jets regular season schedule continues on Thursday in Seattle against the Pacific Division Kraken. Puck drop for this game will be again just after 9:00 pm CT. Stay tuned here at Jets Nation for all of the latest Jets news, plus previews and recaps on each Jets game this season.