The Winnipeg Jets faced their first road loss of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning, ending their seven-game win streak with a 4-1 defeat on Thursday night. This loss marked only the second defeat for the Jets in 17 games this season, bringing their road record to 7-1.
The Jets had hoped to make history by becoming the fifth team in NHL history to win their first eight road games, but fell short against the Lightning. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy celebrated his 300th NHL win by making 24 saves, making him the 40th goaltender in league history to reach this milestone. He accomplished this feat in just 490 games, the fastest in NHL history, 31 games quicker than Jacques Plante.
Jake Guentzel was a key player for the Lightning, scoring twice in the game. His goals, along with scores from Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli within 57 seconds of each other in the second period, gave Tampa Bay a commanding 3-0 lead. This was the largest deficit the Jets had faced all season. Although Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry managed to score on a deflection in the second period, Guentzel secured the win for the Lightning with an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the game.
Despite Jets backup goalie Eric Comrie making 25 saves, he suffered his first loss in four starts this season. Winnipeg’s power play, which had been leading the NHL at 42.2%, struggled in this game, going 0-for-5. On the other hand, Tampa Bay, coming off a seven-day break, secured their first win of the month after a rough start with four consecutive losses in November.
The Lightning’s victory over the Jets showcased their resilience and determination to bounce back after a challenging period. The Jets, on the other hand, will look to learn from this defeat and come back stronger in their upcoming games. This game served as a reminder that every team faces setbacks, but it’s how they respond to them that truly matters in the long run.