Niederreiter scores twice as Winnipeg Jets dump Flames 5-2 in preseason contest – Winnipeg

Preseason hockey can be messy, and that was certainly the case in the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Flames.

The Jets, playing most of their regular players, managed to pull away in the third period for a 5-2 victory over a Flames team filled with AHL players.

The game was tied going into the third period, but the Jets scored three goals in the final 14 minutes to secure their second win of the preseason.

“I think our whole team was a bit sluggish for the first two periods,” commented Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “It was a bit sloppy at times, but I thought the group improved as the game went on.”

In the final period, the Jets outshot Calgary 11-5.

“We had a strong third period,” Gabriel Vilardi shared during the 680 CJOB Jets post-game show. “Both teams had their chances in the first two periods.”

“We were able to capitalize in the third period.”

Nino Niederreiter scored two goals in the win, while Vilardi contributed three assists and had five shots on goal, creating several quality scoring opportunities.

“His passing skills, vision, and ability to control the puck are elite,” Arniel praised Vilardi. “When he does that, he opens up space for other players. Sometimes, he draws two defenders to him, creating openings for his teammates.”

The Jets’ top line of Vilardi, Mark Scheifele, and Kyle Connor combined for six points, showing signs of chemistry with just one more preseason game remaining to fine-tune their play.

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“It takes time,” Vilardi acknowledged. “It’s only our second game of the preseason. We’ll see if we get another one on Friday, but we’re starting to read each other well. Obviously, those two have played together for a long time.”

The Jets’ special teams had another solid performance, successfully killing off both penalties and scoring on one of their three power play opportunities, generating several dangerous chances. This marked the third consecutive game in which they scored a power play goal.

“We’ve been working on it,” said forward Nikolaj Ehlers. “And obviously, there are still some things we need to figure out, but overall, we created a lot of chances today. When we lost possession, we did everything we could to regain it, so that was very positive.”

After allowing eight goals in his first preseason appearance, Connor Hellebuyck bounced back in the second game, stopping 17 of the 19 shots he faced.

Jets forward David Gustafsson exited the game in the second period due to a lower-body injury and will undergo evaluation on Thursday.

Calgary opened the scoring over eight minutes into the first period when Martin Frk redirected a point shot from Jake Bean past Hellebuyck.

Less than three minutes later, the Jets tied the game on the power play. With their top unit on the ice, Winnipeg moved the puck swiftly around the Flames’ zone, with Vilardi making a quick pass to Ehlers in the slot, who then scored past Dustin Wolf to make it 1-1.

Just under two minutes later, the Jets took the lead. After Calgary failed to clear the puck, Ehlers set up Niederreiter in front of the net, and he scored to make it 2-1.

However, with 2:05 remaining in the first period, the Flames equalized. A turnover by the Jets in the neutral zone led to a 3-on-3 rush for the Flames, resulting in a scramble in front of the net and a goal by Justin Kirkland.

Neither team managed to score in the second period, although Winnipeg had the best opportunity.

Adam Lowry had a partial breakaway but missed the net by a foot or two after attempting to beat Wolf through the five-hole.

Winnipeg regained the lead at 6:28 of the third period. Vilardi’s initial shot was saved, but Lowry fed the rebound to Niederreiter, who scored into an open net.

Simon Lundmark extended the lead with 5:43 left, receiving a pass from Brad Lambert and scoring from the point over Wolf’s shoulder.

Connor added to the lead with 3:13 remaining, converting a feed from Scheifele for his second goal of the preseason.

The two teams will face each other again in Calgary on Friday for their final preseason game. The puck drops just after 8 p.m. with pregame coverage on Power 97 starting at 6.

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