Connor Strikes Twice as Jets Hand Avalanche First Loss, 3-2

Kyle Connor delivered when it mattered most. The Winnipeg winger buried the game-winner with just a minute left in regulation to lift the Jets past the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night, ending Colorado's perfect start to the season. The night looked like it was heading to overtime until Mark Scheifele stripped the puck in his own end and charged the length of the ice. Feeding Connor in the left circle, the winger picked his spot from the high slot and beat Mackenzie Blackwood on the short side for his second goal of the night. Connor had also pulled Winnipeg level in the second period, answering Jaden Schwartz's opener just 70 seconds later. Cole Perfetti then put the Jets ahead late in the middle frame, tipping home a Dylan Samberg point shot. Colorado refused to fold, and Fedor Svechkov redirected a Schwartz feed with 7:25 left to set up the dramatic finish. Stuart Skinner was the backbone of the win, turning aside 32 shots — including all 17 Colorado managed in the first period. The Jets did it the hard way too, finishing with five defensemen after Josh Morrissey exited midway through the second period with an upper-body injury. Schwartz and Svechkov each finished with a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who had piled up 14 goals in their first two games before being stifled in Winnipeg. Blackwood made 16 saves in the loss. The Jets have now won three straight and taken points in all four of their games to open the campaign.