Peterka’s OT winner lifts Bruins to 4-3 win over Jets at Canada Life Centre

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

WINNIPEG — JJ Peterka scored 3:21 into overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Friday. The Bruins completed a comeback that began before the end of regulation, then carried into the extra period when Peterka converted on a breakaway set up by David Pastrnak.

The winning sequence started with Pastrnak feeding Peterka on the run. Peterka then beat Winnipeg goaltender Stuart Skinner by sliding the puck through Skinner’s five-hole at 3:21 of overtime. Pastrnak also recorded two assists in the game, while Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for Boston.

Elias Lindholm and Hampus Lindholm also scored for the Bruins, and James Hagens added another goal as part of Boston’s total of four. The Bruins also drew important late-game consequences from Lindholm’s equalizer, which arrived with Swayman pulled for the extra attacker.

With Swayman pulled for an extra skater, Lindholm tied the score 3-3 with 1:38 remaining in the third period. Lindholm tipped Pastrnak’s shot from outside the right circle into the net to force overtime after Winnipeg’s lead had held late into the third.

Winnipeg struck first in the opening period when DeMelo made it 1-0 at 4:52. DeMelo scored from the point on a one-timer that beat a screened Swayman high on his stick side. Shortly after, Hampus Lindholm responded for Boston, tying the game 1-1 at 9:23 when his one-timer from the blue line went under Skinner’s glove.

The Bruins then took the lead late in the first period. James Hagens scored his first NHL goal to make it 2-1 Boston at 15:20, driving the play as Mark Kastelic went to the net and Nikita Zadorov tapped the puck across the crease. Hagens then slid it under Skinner, finishing the sequence for Boston’s second goal.

In the second period, Winnipeg’s power play produced the equalizer. Kyle Connor tied the game 2-2 at 1:50 of the second period, collecting the puck from a net-front scramble and scoring five-hole on Swayman to level the contest.

Winnipeg regained the lead near the end of the second period. Mario Ferraro made it 3-2 Jets at 19:52 with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle, setting up a third period in which Boston would eventually force overtime through Lindholm’s late regulation goal.

Skinner finished with 26 saves for Winnipeg in his debut with the Jets. Adam Lowry added two assists, and Connor finished with a goal and an assist. DeMelo and Ferraro each recorded a goal for Winnipeg in the loss.

The result follows Boston’s prior game, after the Bruins shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday. Against Winnipeg, Boston improved to 2-0-0 with the win, while Winnipeg fell to 0-0-1.

The game’s turning point came in the closing minutes of regulation, when the Bruins’ extra-attacker setup created the rebound and deflection that led to Lindholm’s tying goal. From there, momentum carried into overtime, where Peterka’s finish delivered the decisive 4-3 scoreline for Boston.

With the teams now having completed the Friday matchup at Canada Life Centre, the Bruins’ overtime win hinged on both timely finishing and late-game execution: Lindholm’s 3-3 equalizer with 1:38 left in regulation and Peterka’s breakaway conversion at 3:21 of overtime sealed the outcome for Boston.