Byfuglien scores highlight-reel winner as Jets beat Flames

By Scott Taylor/Photos by Jeff Miller and James Carey Lauder

Dustin Byfuglien nearly brought the house down.

On Friday night at MTS Centre, Byfuglien beat Calgary Flames netminder Karri Ramo on the short side with 1:28 left on the clock to lead the Jets to a thrilling 3-1 victory over the visiting Flames.

Two stars: Ondrej Pavelec and Dustin Byfuglien (Photo by James Carey Lauder)

The response of the full house at MTS Centre to the goal, the goal that made the score 2-1 Jets, nearly tore the roof off Winnipeg’s downtown arena as the Jets not only won a hard-fought battle, they also came back from a 1-0 deficit after the first period to improve to 4-1-0 on the season.

It was Byfuglien’s second goal of the capiagn and it came unassisted after he made a brilliant move at the blueline.

“It’s so unusual for a man that big to do what he can do at a high rate of speed,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “He was very good tonight. When we were a bit sluggish in the first period, he made some good plays in our end and got our offense going again.

“We played very good hockey for the final two periods. Over the final 40 minutes, we were a real good hockey team tonight.”

A few seconds after Byfuglien gave the Jets a 2-1 lead, Blake Wheeler scored into an empty net to put the game away as the Jets won their 2015-16 home opener.

Ondrej Pavelec (Photo by James Carey Lauder)

Winnipeg outshot Calgary 30-20 on the night – 22-9 over the final 40 minutes — as Ondrej Pavelec made 19 saves to get the win.

“That was a tough night for him (Pavelec),” said Maurice. “He went some long stretches without seeing many shots. It’s hard for a goalie to play in that type of game, but he was good. Both him and Michael (Hutchinson) have been really good. We’re getting some real good goaltending.”

Calgary was the better team in the first period and at 3:38, Mikael Backlund scored to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. But Bryan Little, who also assisted on Wheeler’s empty netter, deflected a shot at 8:12 of the second period to tie the game.

Then Byfuglien and Wheeler put the game away at 18:32 and 19:07 of the third period. The Jets dominated the final two periods.

Dustin Byfuglien (Photo by Jeff Miller)

The three stars were Alexander Burmistrov (3) of the Jets, Ramo (2) and Byfuglien (1).

“It’s always nice to get back home,” said Byfuglien. “We didn’t get off to a great start, but we got two points and that’s all that matters.”

The Jets will play again on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at MTS centre when Alexander Steen, Ryan Reaves and the St. Louis Blues come to town. It’s the second game of the Jets six-game homestand.

Posted by: Scott Taylor for RiverCitySports.com