By Canadian Press

Gabriel Vilardi leads as Jets fend off Islanders 4-3 for eighth-straight win

Feb 7, 2025 | 9:51 PM

WINNIPEG — Gabriel Vilardi scored two goals to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo also scored as Winnipeg (39-14-3) won its eighth straight game.

Kyle Palmieri, Marc Gatcomb and Simon Holmstrom replied for New York (25-22-7).

Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves for the Jets before 14,685 fans at Canada Life Centre.

Ilya Sorokin stopped 23 shots for the Islanders.

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Palmieri pulled New York to within a goal when he scored with 8:53 left in regulation. Palmieri pounced on a rebound in front of an open net after a shot by Alexander Romanov.

Vilardi scored his second goal of the game with 2:42 left in the second period to up the score to 4-2 for Winnipeg heading into the third period. Vilardi converted a pass from Mark Scheifele in front and beat Sorokin with a wrist shot. Kyle Connor also assisted.

Ehlers gave Winnipeg a 3-2 lead when he converted a nifty backhand pass from behind the net by Cole Perfetti. Vladislav Namestinikov had the other helper to extend his point streak to four games.

Vilardi tied the contest 2-2 early in the second period. Vilardi took a perfect pass from Connor, then beat Sorokin with a wrist shot. Scheifele also assisted.

New York took advantage of some sloppy Jets play to take a 2-1 lead about midway through the first frame. Gatcomb pounced on a Mason Appleton giveaway alone in front of Hellebuyck and beat the Winnipeg netminder for an unassisted marker.

Iafallo had knotted the score 1-1 at 4:27 with a brilliant individual effort. First, he handed his stick to defenceman Neal Pionk, who had broken his in the defensive zone. Then, Iafallo grabbed a stick handed to him from backup goalie Eric Comrie, took a pass and skated up the ice, while fighting off Bo Horvat, went to his forehand and beat Sorokin. Dylan Samberg and Brad Lambert assisted.

Holmstrom opened the scoring just 1:05 into the game. After taking a pass from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Holmstrom slid the puck past Hellebuyck to the far corner, converting a 3-on-1.

Takeaways

Jets: After a sloppy first period, their offence came to life, outscoring New York 3-1 to take a 4-2 lead.

Islanders: Came on like gangbusters in the third period, pulling to within a goal with about eight minutes left, leaving the Jets just hanging on for the W.

Key moment

Vilardi scored late in the second to give Winnipeg some breathing room with a 4-2 lead. It was Vilardi’s career-best 24th goal of the season.

Key stat

Hellebuyck stopped eight shots, many of them outstanding, during a third-period power play and the Jets leading by just one goal.

Up next

The Jets will not play their next game until Feb. 22 when they take on the Blues in St. Louis.

The Islanders will face the Wild in Minnesota on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2025.

Jim Bender, The Canadian Press