Trouba scores twice as surging Jets beat Jackets
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jacob Trouba scored two goals, and the Winnipeg Jets broke a third-period tie to win their sixth consecutive game, posting a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.
Bryan Little had one goal and three assists, and Mathieu Perreault added a goal and two assists for the surging Jets (39-35-7), who previously were eliminated from the playoff race.
Mark Scheifele also scored a goal for Winnipeg, whose winning streak is their longest since the franchise relocated from Atlanta in 2011.
The playoff-bound Blue Jackets (49-23-8) are falling on hard times at the end of their best season in franchise history. They lost their fifth straight game and any chance to gain home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs next week against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jets goaltender Eric Comrie, who was called up Monday from the American Hockey League, won his NHL debut. He finished with 35 saves.
Brandon Saad scored two second-period goals for the Blue Jackets. Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner had one each, and Oliver Bjorkstrand contributed two assists.
Trouba and Little gave the Jets a 5-3 lead with third-period goals. Jenner's goal at 14:00 of the third closed the gap to 5-4, but Winnipeg held on from there.
Joonas Korpisalo had 27 saves for the Blue Jackets.
NOTES: Jets D Tyler Myers hopes to return for the season finale on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. He has been sidelined since Nov. 11 with a lower-body injury. He worked out with the team on Wednesday. ... The Blue Jackets returned F Sonny Milano to Cleveland of the American Hockey League after he played 11:26 and had two shots on Tuesday in a 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh. ... Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski and F Lukas Sedlak remained out with an upper-body injuries. ... Columbus native Jack Roslovic made his NHL debut for the Jets.