Jets surge late, set franchise record at 8 straight wins

The Winnipeg Jets scored two goals in the dying minutes of regulation to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 and set a new franchise record with eight consecutive victories.

Gabriel Vilardi tied it up with 3:29 to play before Nikolaj Ehlers delivered the winner with a lethal wrister off the rush.

NIKOLAJ EHLERS GWG pic.twitter.com/B0vLmBrrY7

- Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 12, 2024

The Jets had a seven-game winning streak in 2016-17 and have gone on three six-game runs dating back to their days as the Atlanta Thrashers.

Winnipeg has won nine of its past 10 games overall and is riding a remarkable 31-game streak of allowing three goals or fewer. Over that span, which began Nov. 4, Rick Bowness' crew is 24-5-2 with a plus-49 goal differential.

The Jets' run has propelled them to first place in the league standings with 60 points (28-9-4) at the halfway point of their schedule. They're tied for the NHL lead with 26 regulation wins and have built a three-point cushion in the Central Division.

Thursday's win did come with one concern, though, as star forward Mark Scheifele left the contest with a lower-body injury early in the second period and was unable to return. Bowness said Scheifele will be re-evaluated on Friday.

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