Sabres - The Buffalo News
National Hockey League
Winnipeg 3, Calgary 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Where: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Referees: Peter MacDougall, Garrett Rank
Linesmen: Devin Berg, Justin Johnson
Attendance: 14130

Sam Gagner broke a deadlock late in the third period to give the host Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames in a hard-battled game Tuesday night.

Josh Morrissey and Brenden Dillon also scored for the Jets, who boast a three-game winning streak despite having a plethora of players out due to injury. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves in an excellent goaltending duel.

Nikita Zadorov and Mikael Backlund replied for the Flames, who twice erased a deficit but couldn't do it a third time, while goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 22 shots.

With overtime looming, Gagner gave the Jets their third lead of the night with 5:40 left on the clock. Gagner set up shop for a deflection and perfectly tipped Ville Heinola's point shot for his seventh goal of the season.

Calgary pressed in the final minute, but couldn't solve Hellebuyck in a frantic push in a close affair. His biggest stop was on a point-blank chance by Jonathan Huberdeau.

After a scoreless, tight-checking opening period, Dillon finally opened the scoring with 5:10 remaining in the second, which snapped a 38-game goal drought that dated back to late last season. Dillon, despite being a defenseman, went to the front of the net as Dylan DeMelo fired a point shot that ricocheted off his knee and into the net.

Zadorov evened the count with 59.5 seconds remaining in the period. The defenseman joined an odd-man rush, took a feed from Tyler Toffoli and scored on a five-hole shot for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Morrissey put the Jets ahead a second time with 9:38 remaining in the third period. After his shot was blocked, the defenseman tracked the puck in the slot and ripped a top-shelf tally for his seventh goal of the season.

But Backlund drew the game even again 96 seconds later. Taking advantage of a broken play, he completed a backhand deke for his eighth marker of the season.

Earlier in the day, the Flames announced that forward Brett Ritchie was to visit a specialist for an injury suffered on New Year's Eve.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Calgary   Winnipeg
Mikael Backlund 1 Points Brenden Dillon 1
Mikael Backlund 1 Goals Brenden Dillon 1
Elias Lindholm 1 Assists Kyle Connor 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jacob Markstrom .880 Save Percentage Connor Hellebuyck .943
Jacob Markstrom 22 Saves Connor Hellebuyck 33
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Calgary 35 2 0-2 4-4 10 31
Winnipeg 25 3 0-4 2-2 6 26
Upcoming Games
  • Winnipeg will play their next game at home against Tampa Bay. The Jets have a W/L % of .583 after a win and .714 after a loss.
  • Calgary will play their next game at home against NY Islanders. The Flames have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .429 after a loss.