Jets storm back to beat Kraken in season finale

[May 02, 2022] Kyle Connor capped a three-goal, third-period rally with the game-winner as the host Winnipeg Jets defeated the expansion Seattle Kraken 4-3 Sunday afternoon.

The game, a makeup of an April 13 contest postponed by a snowstorm, was the finale of the NHL's regular season.

Morgan Barron, Blake Wheeler and Dominic Toninato also scored for the Jets (39-32-11, 89 points) who, despite missing the playoffs for the first time in five years, finished with a four-game winning streak. Jansen Harkins collected two assists and goaltender Eric Comrie made 27 saves.

Alex Wennberg, Daniel Sprong and Riley Sheahan scored for the Kraken (27-49-6, 60 points), who blew a two-goal lead for the fourth time in their past six games. Chris Driedger stopped 23 of 27 shots.

Trailing 3-1 entering the third, the Jets scored thrice in a span of 4:16.

Wheeler pulled the Jets within a goal at 4:49 on a one-timer from the top of the right circle after a faceoff win by Paul Stastny.

Toninato tied it at 7:16, also on a one-timer from the top of the right circle, after a cross-ice pass from Harkins.

The Jets got the winner at 9:05 as Pierre-Luc Dubois dug the puck out of the left-wing corner and found Connor in the slot. He beat Driedger with a quick shot between the pads.

Seattle Kraken forward Joonas Donskoi (72) battles Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (4) for the puck during the first period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets opened the scoring at 3:47 of the first period. Barron intercepted a pass by Seattle rookie Matty Beniers just inside the defensive blue line and passed ahead to Harkins to start a two-on one rush. Barron took a return pass and lifted a shot over Driedger's shoulder.

The Kraken tied it at 5:56 of the second period on the power play. Beniers controlled the puck along the right-wing boards and sent a cross-ice pass to Jared McCann, who slid the puck back across the crease to Wennberg at the right post for an easy tap-in.

Sprong gave the Kraken a 2-1 lead at 12:24. Derrick Pouliot's pass from the left point found Sprong skating down the slot alone, and he lifted the puck over Comrie.

The Kraken extended the lead to 3-1 just 55 seconds later. Wennberg drove the puck down the left wing and centered a pass that went off a defenseman's stick and to Sheahan near the right post for a one-timer.

--Field Level Media

[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.