Hurricanes 4, Jets 3: Winnipeg Loses, But the Story Isn’t

The lone Canadian game on the NHL slate Friday night had a little bit of everything: a fast start, a pushback, and just enough chaos to leave the crowd muttering to themselves on the way out. Carolina walked out of Canada Life Centre with a 4–3 win, powered by two goals from Jordan Staal and airtight special teams.

Winnipeg? They got a pair of scores from Gabriel Vilardi, 24 saves from Eric Comrie, and a night that felt like three games wrapped into one.

The Jets Entered the Game After Hearing Some Bad News

The Jets were skating with a layer of tension after the morning news that Connor Hellebuyck, their franchise backbone, was heading for knee surgery and would miss 4–6 weeks. The rink felt different before puck drop, and you could tell the team was trying to settle itself into a new rhythm with Comrie back in the starter’s crease.

The Jets hung around, they fought, but the margins were thin. Give Carolina credit. They know how to squeeze those margins tight.

A Game Started Wrong for the Jets and Never Quite Straightened Out

Was the tone of this game set before anyone had even adjusted their elbow pads? Sixteen seconds in, Staal walked in and snapped one off the post and in. That’s the kind of goal that changes the temperature of a building. Oh no, will Hellebuyck’s injury be even worse than we thought?

But Winnipeg answered. Josh Morrissey scored a beauty. Vilardi potted one on the power play. Still, every time the Jets drew level or grabbed a bit of momentum, the Hurricanes took it back with something simple and direct. A deflection. A rebound. A short-handed dagger. Games get lost in those moments.

Watching from the press box, it felt like the Jets were trying to carry two stories at once: the one unfolding on the ice, and the one hanging over them with Hellebuyck out long-term. Comrie didn’t look rattled, but he didn’t get enough help. Pucks that needed to move up ice weren’t. Line changes went sideways. The Hurricanes punished every mistake, and that’s what good teams do. And yet—Winnipeg stayed in the fight right to the end. That’s worth noting.

Three Key Points from the Jets’ Perspective

Key Point 1. Gabriel Vilardi is heating up. He scored two goals and showed confidence in his touches. These are signs he’s ready to shoulder more offensive weight while the team regroups.

Key Point 2. Eric Comrie did his job well enough. The backup goalie made the stops he needed; the breakdowns in front of him were the issue. Winnipeg must tighten its zone exits. Plain and simple.

Key Point 3. Both the Jets and the Hurricanes’ special teams decided the night. A short-handed goal against and a power-play goal against—those were the killers, especially when your No. 1 goalie is out.

Final Jets Thought

The Jets weren’t outclassed last night. Instead, they were out-managed in the details. With Hellebuyck sidelined, the team has no choice but to clean those details up fast. They could be the difference between winning and losing.