Jets 3, Red Wings 2: Connor's Power Play Holds Detroit Off

October 4, 2026 - Detroit - Keegan Kolesar and J.T. Compher took unsportsmanlike and abuse-of-officials minors in the first period, and Winnipeg's power play did not waste them. Cole Perfetti deflected one at 13:04. Kyle Connor scored on a backhand 92 seconds later. Little Caesars Arena was already chasing 2-0.

The Winnipeg Jets beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Winnipeg is 1-0-1 after an overtime loss to Boston on Friday. Detroit is 0-2-0 after a 2-0 home opener loss to the Rangers. The Associated Press recap called this Winnipeg's first win.

Stuart Skinner stopped 33 of 35. John Gibson stopped 24 of 27. Shots finished 35-27 Detroit. The AP recap said Skinner made a late stop on Lucas Raymond in the final minute. Attendance was 17,426.

Three power-play goals, then Detroit finds even strength

Perfetti's tip at 13:04 came with Connor and Josh Morrissey on the assists. 1-0. Connor's first, at 14:36, was a backhand from Gabriel Vilardi and Perfetti. 2-0. Tyrel Bauer and Kolesar had already fought at 12:10. Compher's two-minute abuse-of-officials penalty sat under that mess.

Connor scored again at 5:41 of the second, a snap on the power play after Raymond's holding-the-stick minor. Morrissey and Perfetti again. 3-0. Every Winnipeg goal was a man-advantage goal. Gibson did not allow an even-strength score.

Viktor Arvidsson finally put Detroit on the board at 16:52 of the second, a power-play deflection from Andrew Copp and Moritz Seider. 3-1. Emmitt Finnie scored even strength at 4:56 of the third from Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Alex DeBrincat. 3-2. Brandsegg-Nygard is not seeded on AthX player pages, so the name stays unlinked.

Detroit got another look after Dylan DeMelo hooked DeBrincat at 15:53. The power play did not tie it. Skinner closed the last minute.

Missing names, 33 saves, and a one-goal third

The AP recap noted Dylan Larkin was out with an upper-body injury and Connor Hellebuyck stayed on the suspended/inactive list. Both have requested trades, the recap said. Simon Edvinsson (unsigned) and Marco Kasper (upper body) also missed it.

Connor finished with two goals, an assist, five shots, and two power-play bonuses in 20:05. Perfetti had a goal, two assists, two shots, and a block. Morrissey had two assists, seven shots, and two blocks in 21:33. Seider played 25:41 with an assist, three shots, and four blocks. Raymond played 23:55 without a point.

Winnipeg visits Pittsburgh on Monday. Detroit hosts Ottawa on Tuesday.

Connor's 20:05 led Winnipeg forwards. Copp's 23:44 led Detroit's. Neal Pionk blocked four shots in 23:53. Seider's 25:41 led everyone. The AP recap said Detroit failed to take advantage of a late power play. The NHL landing lists DeMelo's hooking minor at 15:53 as that look.

AthX Engine on a 3-2 hold-on

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Connor at 14.50. Perfetti is 11.20. Morrissey is 10.20. Skinner's win, 33 saves, and two goals against are 13.80. Arvidsson is 6.30. Seider is 6.30. Finnie is 5.20. Gibson is 6.00.

Winnipeg's team line is 16.60. Detroit's regulation loss is 1.40.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Connor after two power-play goals in a first win, and for a Detroit club that has not won in two home dates. They are not the same number.

Track Connor, Skinner, Perfetti, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com scoreboard, NHL gamecenter boxscore 2026020035. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from that verified box. Information only; not financial advice.*