Winnipeg Jets news — Tampa Bay just erased a 3-0 Winnipeg lead at Canada Life Centre, and a game the Jets had in their hands is now tied 3-3 with 53 seconds left in the third period.
By Maplestime Sports Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 8, 2026
Sources: Sportradar live scoreboard, Winnipeg Hockey Insider | Last updated: November 8, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Tampa Bay scored three unanswered third period goals to wipe out a 3-0 Winnipeg lead
- Pontus Holmberg scored twice in 26 seconds, at 5:59 and 5:33 left in the third, to tie the game 3-3
- Brayden Yager scored his first career NHL goal earlier in the third to make it 3-0 Jets
- Winnipeg is on a late power play after Yanni Gourde took a tripping minor with 1:45 left in regulation
- Stuart Skinner has stopped 18 of 21 shots, while Andrei Vasilevskiy has stopped 19 of 22
How Tampa Bay Erased the Lead
The third period started like a celebration. Brayden Yager scored his first career NHL goal on the power play with 11:50 left, a snap shot set up by Viggo Bjorck and Alex Iafallo, and the Jets led 3-0. The goal came on a four minute power play after Pontus Holmberg high sticked Yager in the face and drew blood. There is no team update yet on Yager’s condition.
Then Tampa Bay answered. Brandon Hagel beat Skinner with a wrist shot at 9:38 left, assisted by Anthony Cirelli, to make it 3-1. The Lightning kept coming, and Holmberg did the damage himself. He scored on a snap shot at 5:59 left, assisted by Erik Cernak and Zemgus Girgensons, to cut it to 3-2. Twenty six seconds later he scored again, this time on a backhand set up by Cernak and Ilya Mikheyev, and the game was tied 3-3 with 5:33 left.
Winnipeg built the lead in the second period. Cole Perfetti scored on the power play at 1:53 of the second, assisted by Mark Scheifele and Haydn Fleury, and Morgan Barron followed with a slap shot at 7:22 left in the period, assisted by Neal Pionk and Bjorck. The first period ended scoreless.
What the Numbers Say
The shots are close, 22 to 21 for Winnipeg, but the blocked shots tell the story of a Jets team under siege late. Winnipeg has blocked 18 shots to Tampa Bay’s 2. The Jets are 2 for 4 on the power play while Tampa Bay is 0 for 4. Skinner has stopped 18 of 21 shots for an .857 save percentage, and Vasilevskiy has stopped 19 of 22 for an .864 mark. The period splits are 0-0 after one, 2-0 Winnipeg after two, and 1-3 Tampa Bay in the third so far.
What Comes Next
Winnipeg has a late chance to win it in regulation. Gourde took a tripping minor with 1:45 left, drawn by Neal Pionk, so the Jets are on the power play as the clock winds down. If neither side scores, the game goes to overtime.
One thing to watch is Erik Cernak, who left the ice in discomfort to his left leg during the Jets power play in the third period, according to WiebesWorld via Winnipeg Hockey Insider. Nothing is official yet. The Jets next play Tuesday in Ottawa.
Maplestime will provide updates from the Jets vs Lightning game as announcements are made.
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Do you think the Jets can still pull this one out, or has Tampa Bay already stolen the momentum for good? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Jets fan following the game tonight.
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