Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, left, celebrates with teammate forward Mark Scheifele after Connor's goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.Paul Vernon/The Associated Press
Kyle Connor scored twice and the Winnipeg Jets overcame an early deficit to beat Columbus 2-1 on Saturday night, keeping their NHL playoff hopes alive and sending the Blue Jackets to their sixth straight loss.
Winnipeg moved to 78 points, a point out of the final wild-card berth in the crowded Western Conference.
Connor tied it with 1:46 left in the second period, and scored the winner with 9:02 left in the third. He has 36 goals this season. Mark Scheifele had his 59th and 60th assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 15 saves.
Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko reaches for the puck in front of Jets forward Cole Perfetti during the second period.Paul Vernon/The Associated Press
Ivan Provorov scored for Columbus, which has lost four straight at home and remains outside the Eastern Conference wild-card picture. Jet Greaves stopped 23 shots.
Provorov scored on Columbus’s first shot 1:17 into the game. It was the Blue Jackets’ 57th goal by a defenceman this season, a franchise record.
Columbus then went more than 25 minutes without another shot as Winnipeg took control.