Kyle Connor hopes to be part of the solution for a Winnipeg Jets team that many label as chokers. It has been a couple of successful regular seasons for the Jets since relocating from Atlanta, but they can’t seem to get over the hump in the playoffs.
This year, the Jets got a good start on changing that with a massive comeback victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 1. In the process, Kyle Connor tied a franchise record for game-winning playoff goals.
The Jets share their franchise history with the Atlanta Thrashers, but it was a former Jet that Connor tied. Former teammate Paul Stastny was alone in first place with four overtime game-winning goals, but Connor joined him with his deciding goal with a little over a minute and a half remaining. It was also the latest playoff go-ahead goal in the Jets/Thrashers franchise history.
Successful season for Kyle Connor and the Jets
Connor’s 97 points this season were a new career high. They beat his previous mark of 93, which he set in 2021-22. It was also his second-most productive scoring season, as he recorded 41 goals in 82 games. The mark put him seventh in the league, among a logjam of players in the 41-45 goal range.
The Jets also ran away with the Presidents’ Trophy, owning a record of 56-22-4. The next-closest team was the Washington Capitals, sitting five points back with 111. Winning that award isn’t always a good thing, as plenty of teams have fallen victim to the “Presidents’ Trophy curse.” However, the Jets got a good start in the 2025 playoffs.
The Jets’ Game 1 wasn’t perfect. They fell behind early and tried to battle back for most of the game. Alex Iafallo finally tied the game with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the third period, before Connor iced the game with his record-breaking tally. It was a shaky start for Connor Hellebuyck, but he eventually proved why he is the Vezina Trophy front-runner and a candidate for the league’s MVP.
The Jets hope to ride the momentum into Monday when they host the Blues in Game 2.
The post Kyle Connor ties Jets’ NHL playoff record with goal vs. Blues appeared first on ClutchPoints.
