Ondrej Palat scored 36 seconds into overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 Friday night at MTS Centre.

Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette and Vladislav Namestnikov scored in regulation for the Lightning who saw the Jets rally three times to tie the game.

Nikolaj Ehlers, Drew Stafford and Blake Wheeler replied for Winnipeg.

Wheeler's shorthanded goal 1:17 into the third period tied the game at 3-3.

”I think in the second period we got a little bit away from it, defensively speaking,” Wheeler said. “I think they were just a little bit quicker than we were in our zone, and for that reason they were able to cash in on a couple loose pucks in front of the net.”

Ehlers failed to convert a golden opportunity late in regulation.

The Jets first round draft pick in 2014 broke in alone on Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop and after a deke to his backhand put the puck off the post with seven seconds left in the third period.

Winnipeg (4-2-1) will face the Minnesota Wild at MTS Centre on Sunday.


photos by Ray Peters