NFL Highlights: Panthers 23, Saints 22

Chuba Hubbard rushed for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Bryce Young threw for 171 yards to earn his first victory of the season as the Carolina Panthers edged the New Orleans Saints 23-22.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Jets had every reason to fold.

They were down 2-0 early in the game, thanks largely due to a head-scratcher ruling that upheld the first goal of the game. Jets coach Scott Arniel had good reason to challenge Brandon Hagel’s goal, as the replay showed that Conor Geekie pushed Connor Hellebuyck’s pad during a net-front scramble seconds before the goal. But upon review, it was determined that there was no goaltender interference.

“We’d challenge that every time,” Arniel said.

Brayden Point scored on the ensuing power play, which could’ve very well sucked the winds out of Winnipeg’s sails. But it didn’t. Good teams find a way. And the Jets did just that.

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The 2-0 deficit woke the Jets up from their slow start to the game.

Right after Point’s goal, the Jets took control. Vladislav Namestnikov scored minutes later — which, given the momentum that was building, felt inevitable.

“I just liked we went back and got to work,” Arniel said. “I think we spent four, maybe five continuous shifts in their end of the rink before we scored. That’s the mentality. You can’t worry about what’s behind you. You have to move forward.”

Goals from Logan Stanley and Mark Scheifele in the second period — where the Jets outshot the Lightning 11-5 and out-chanced them 9-4 during five-on-play — put Winnipeg in the driver seat. That response, spearheaded by the missed call, was the catalyst to them defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4.

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More importantly, it was another example of the Jets persevering when their backs are against the wall. There’s a reason they’ve recorded an NHL-high seven comeback wins this year. It was similar to what we saw during the Jets first loss of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they clawed back from a 4-0 deficit. Winnipeg prides itself on never being out of the fight.

“There was no panic in our group,” Nikolaj Ehlers said. “And that shows that we have learned a lot over the last couple of years.”

Since former coach Rick Bowness’ infamous ‘no push back’ press conference after their first-round exit against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, Winnipeg is tied for the sixth-most comeback wins in the league (25), according to MoreHockeyStats.com.

WHY DID HAGEL’S GOAL STAND?

The NHL’s Situation Room said in a statement that the goal was upheld because they deemed Geekie was making a play on a loose puck when he pushed Hellebuyck’s pad.

“The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.7 which states, in part, that ‘in a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed,‘” the league said in a press release.

BIG GAME FOR BIG STAN

Logan Stanley was an x-factor for the Jets. And frankly, it had nothing to do with his game-tying goal at the 14:11 mark of the second period. It was the bone-crushing open ice hit he delivered on Luke Glendening.

“That hit, I was on the ice, I felt that one too,” Ehlers said.

Zemgus Girgensons took exception to the clean hit — drawing an instigator — and Stanley answered the bell, dropping the gloves with the seasoned veteran and earning the takedown in the process. The Jets scored on the ensuing power play.

It was the type of sequence that embodies why the Jets have been so keen on giving the 6-foot-7 defenceman plenty of leeway to figure things out.

“It really sparked the crowd. They got into it. Obviously our bench did as well,” Arniel said. “Stan’s a big man. When he does that stuff, he’s going to create more space for himself. It was a big moment and we knew what we had to do after that.”

Stanley, 26, has recorded one goal and three points in eight games after missing the team’s first four games with a knee injury. Considering we haven’t seen Haydn Fleury rotate in on the bottom pairing, it’s safe to say the 2016 first-round pick has firmly cemented himself as a regular on Winnipeg’s blue-line.

OTHER THOUGHTS

• With two points on the night, Ehlers became the highest scoring Danish skater of all-time (474) — passing Frans Nielsen.

“There’s Danish guys that I’ve watched growing up and Frans was obviously one of them,” Ehlers said. “He was an outstanding player in this league. Lucky enough I got to play with him at the World Championships in his last year. It’s a very proud moment. Very happy.”

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• Dylan Samberg scored his third goal of the year. Before this season, he had three career goals through 156 games.

“The big thing about it, I think I’ve mentioned it a few times, is that he’s playing with our top six a lot more than he was prior to because he had to go head-to-head with the bottom six,” Arniel said. “He knows that he has a good shot. He knows that he has to find a way to get it to the net front. A great screen on that one, I think that was Scheif in front. But we talk to our D all of the time. Go out and create that. When we’re winning races, winning battles to get to the net front, we have to make sure that we send that puck there and that was a great opportunity for him to do that.”

So far this year, Samberg has recorded 2.79 even strength scoring chances per 60 minutes during five-on-five play — a huge uptick from last season (1.95).

• Kyle Connor left the game in the third period after being hit from behind by Nikita Kucherov. Arniel said he was fine — the concussion spotters pulled him — and Jets fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

“I’m not a fan of that one,” Stanley said. “[Connor’s] got his back turned and [Kucherov] kind of takes a run at him from behind. I’m glad [Connor’s] alright.”