Jets extend win streak to nine with shootout win

Gabriel Vilardi scored twice as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the host St. Louis Blues 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night to extend their winning streak to nine games.

Nikolaj Ehlers also scored and Cole Perfetti earned two assists for the Jets. Kyle Connor decided the shootout as the only scorer and Eric Comrie made 21 saves, plus three more in the shootout.

Robert Thomas had two goals and an assist for the Blues. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and two assists and Joel Hofer made 25 saves.

Ehlers put Winnipeg up 1-0 on a two-on-one rush with Perfetti 4:58 into the game. Ehlers burst up the left wing and converted Perfetti's feed from the right wing.

The Blues tied the game 1-1 with 4:26 left in the period. Buchnevich chipped the puck ahead to Thomas for a two-on-one break with Jake Neighbours.

Thomas beat Comrie with a wrist shot from the right wing for his 100th NHL goal.

Winnipeg closed the first period on the power play but Hofer kept the game tied by stopping Connor's one-time blast from the right circle.

After the Blues' Nathan Walker missed the net from point-blank range at one end, Vilardi scored at the other to put Winnipeg up 2-1 with 8:59 left in the second period.

The best Blues opportunities of the period came during a flurry on their final shift of the period. But Comrie stopped shots by Justin Faulk, Zack Bolduc and Philip Broberg.

Thomas tied the game 2-2 with a wraparound shot 16 seconds into the third period.

The Blues got a four-minute power play with 4:28 left in regulation. Buchnevich took advantage with a slap shot from the slot that beat Comrie with 2:50 left.

But the Jets tied the game 3-3 with 27.6 seconds left on Vilardi's redirection of Connor's pass.

Both teams had multiple chances in overtime, but Hofer and Comrie came up big to force the shootout.

--Field Level Media