CALGARY — Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton each had a goal and an assist Saturday as the Winnipeg Jets reeled off eight straight wins to open the NHL season with a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames.

Nikolaj Ehlers, Dylan Samberg and Cole Perfetti – with the game-winning goal – also scored for Winnipeg (8-0), which has won 16 straight regular-season games dating back to the end of the 2023-24 season.

It’s a feat that has only been accomplished three times in league history: 1992-93 for the Pittsburgh Penguins (17), 2023-24 for the Edmonton Oilers (16) and 2016-2017 for the Columbus Blue Jackets (16).

Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary (5-2-1). The Flames have lost back-to-back games after opening the season with a franchise-best 5-0-1 record.

Eric Comrie made 27 saves to earn the victory and improve the score to 2-0. Dustin Wolf finished with 30 saves while losing for the first time in four starts.

TAKE AWAY

Jets: With Connor Hellebuyck on leave, Comrie made his second start and although he was beaten over his shoulder from sharp angles on Backlund and Andersson’s goals, he was solid the rest of the day. the evening.

Flames: The season debut of left winger Yegor Sharangovich, who missed the first seven games with an upper-body injury, didn’t help the Flames struggling on the power play, who got a score 0 out of 4 while only generating one shot. They also allowed a shorthanded goal.

KEY MOMENT

With the game tied 3-3 in the third and just over a minute after the Flames had just killed a two-man advantage in 90 seconds, Wolf made six saves when Kadri’s sharp penalty in the offensive zone put the Jets back in power. play again and this time they take advantage with Perfetti taking a shot off Wolf’s blocker.

KEY STATUS

The Jets power play continues to unfold. Ranked 22nd last season, they entered Saturday’s games ranked first in the NHL and went 2-for-4 against the Flames, improving to 10-for-23 this season.

FOLLOWING

Jets: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

Flames: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

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

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press