CALGARY — Shortly after failing to capitalize on a late two-man advantage, the Winnipeg Jets had a second chance and didn’t waste it.

Cole Perfetti’s power play goal at 16:16 of the third period was the game-winner as the Jets improved to a perfect 8-0-0 this season with a 5-3 win over the Flames from Calgary.

Tied with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation, the visitors’ opportunity presented itself when Calgary’s Martin Pospisil was whistled for tripping and 30 seconds later teammate Rasmus Andersson was also sent off for tripping.

Facing the NHL’s number one power play, Calgary survived the 90-second 5-on-3 despite the Jets surrounding the Flames in their own zone for the duration and peppering Dustin Wolf with six shots.

But despite being one of the shortest goalies in the league, the six-foot Flames rookie withstood the relentless pressure with three of his saves following dangerous looks from Kyle Connor, who had already earned a goal and an assist that night to extend his point streak to eight games.

When Andersson left the penalty box to bring the Flames back to full strength, the crowd of 16,886 at the Scotiabank Saddledome erupted.

But less than a minute later, the air left the building as Calgary came back shorthanded again with Nazem Kadri whistled for slashing when he grabbed Neal Pionk’s hand while chasing him behind the Jets net.

Kadri challenged the call after it was made, slammed the penalty box door after being taken off the ice and had more to say as he left the penalty box after the go-ahead goal.

Still furious when Mason Appleton sealed the game with an empty net at 18:46, Kadri was given a 10-minute professional foul.

“It was great hockey there. It was just a great battle. And someone made a little too much decision on the match,” Kadri said after the match, his displeasure evident. “We had a great match on our hands. It’s a real shame that it had to come down to that.

Perfetti said that flurry of chances helped create the next opportunity for his team’s other power play unit.

“When you create these looks, sometimes they come into play, sometimes they don’t. They created a lot of things and gave us a lot of momentum,” Perfetti said. “Then on the next power play, we were able to cash in.”

The Jets are 10 for 23 with the extra man through their first eight games, running at a lethal rate of 43.5 percent.

“It’s a dynamic change,” Wolf said. “If that penalty isn’t called soon after, I think we’re in good hands with momentum, it’s on our side. It’s a shame they get another power play and end up scoring late in the game.

Flames head coach Ryan Huska expressed a similar sentiment to Kadri when asked about the late penalty calls.

“The guys did a great job with Dustin’s kill, in that 5-on-3 situation,” Huska said. “So after that you want to feel the energy of the crowd because the building was really working and I would have loved to have seen it happen because it was a really good game tonight.”

Looking back to 2023-24, when the Jets finished the regular season with eight straight wins, that makes 16 straight wins, becoming the fourth NHL team to accomplish that feat joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992- 93 (17), in 2023-24. Edmonton Oilers (16) and 2016-17 Columbus Blue Jackets (16).

“It feels good,” captain Adam Lowry said. “It’s good to get these points early and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Jets coach Scott Arniel was happy to leave town with the two points and move on to the next game, which is at home on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“It’s just one of those games that the fans love,” Arniel said. “They had their 5-on-3s, we had our 5-on-3s. Nobody was happy with the way those calls went, but at the end of the day, you just stay as a group.

“And we did a really good job of staying in games for 60 minutes, or maybe 65 minutes, fighting and getting results.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 26, 2024.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press