Winnipeg Jets losing streak extends to six after 5-3 loss to Habs

The Jets woes followed them on the road as they dropped a 5-3 decision to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.

Entering the night on the heels of a winless five-game homestand, the Jets losing streak now sits at six games.

Winnipeg would give up two separate two-goal leads in the second period of the contest. Montreal would go on to score four unanswered goals en-route to the victory, led by forward Nick Suzuki’s two goals and an assist on the night.

Trevor Lewis was a bright spot for the Jets as the fourth line forward scored twice for Winnipeg. It was Lewis’ second career multi-goal game and first since Jan. 16, 2014. Three of Lewis’ five goals on the season have come against Montreal.

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The Jets would strike first, scoring just before the first intermission. Paul Stastny knocked a saucer pass by Dylan Demelo out of mid-air and slipped a shot past Montreal goaltender Jake Allen to give the Jets a 1-0 lead with 1:35 left in the opening period.

Winnipeg escaped the frame being outshot 13-8 by Montreal as Connor Hellebuyck stood tall to keep his side in front.

The second period would get off to a much quicker start as Trevor Lewis extended the Jets’ lead to two. The veteran forward capped off a Jets rush by taking a cross-ice pass from Jansen Harkins and sniping the puck over the glove of Allen and into the top corner.

But that two-goal lead would not last long. Just over two minutes later, Suzuki put the Canadiens on the board. After the Jets weren’t able to control a dump-in by Suzuki, he was first to a bouncing puck in front of the Jets’ net and put it through the traffic and Hellebuyck for the goal. Suzuki extended his point streak to four games on the play and has goals in three of his last four contests.

Lewis would once again put the Jets ahead by a pair later in the period. On a two-on-one rush, he faked a cross-ice pass to Harkins and flipped the puck over the shoulder of Allen for his second of the night.

Much like the last two-goal lead, Montreal slashed it in half in quick order. Artturi Lehkonen took a feed from former Jet Ben Chiarot and wristed the puck short-side over the shoulder of Hellebuyck. That goal came 1:57 after Lewis’.

And Montreal would tie things up before the end of the period. A Joel Armia powerplay marker with less than two minutes to go evened things at three. Armia, who played 179 games for the Jets, found a loose puck in front of the Jets net and slid it through the legs of Hellebuyck.

Once again, Montreal outshot Winnipeg 13-8 in the period as the two sides sat tied entering the third.

In the third, Montreal would get their first lead of the game. A Paul Stastny high-sticking penalty cancelled the Jets powerplay and the Canadiens would take advantage of a condensed man advantage. Suzuki ripped a shot from the high slot behind a screened Hellebuyck for the eventual game-winner.

Tyler Toffoli would ice it with 1:23 left, chipping the puck into the open net with the Jets goalie pulled.

Hellebuyck made 30 saves in the loss as the Jets were outshot 34-20 by the Canadiens. Allen made 19 saves for the win.

The six-game streak of regulation losses is the longest in the franchise’s history since returning to Winnipeg.

Montreal moved to within four points of the Jets for third place in the North Division.

The Jets continue a three-game road trip on Monday when they visit the Ottawa Senators. You can listen to the game live on 680 CJOB with Kelly Moore, Paul Edmonds and Jamie Thomas with the pregame show starting at 4 p.m. and puck drop just after 6 p.m.