Cole Perfetti's overtime goal sends Jets past Canucks

Winnipeg wins first game back from Olympics with 3-2 victory over Vancouver

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:09am

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Cole Perfetti scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the host Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor also scored for the Jets, who rallied from an early deficit to win their first game back from the Olympic break. Evander Kane and Drew O'Connor scored for the last-place Canucks, who have now lost four straight games.

Why it matters

The Jets' victory keeps them in the playoff hunt in the tight Western Conference, while the struggling Canucks continue to fall further out of contention. Perfetti's overtime heroics provide a boost for Winnipeg as they look to make a push for the postseason in the second half of the season.

The details

Winnipeg overcame early deficits in both the first and second periods to force overtime. O'Connor and Kane scored the Canucks' goals, but the Jets rallied with tallies from Connor and Vilardi to tie the game. In the extra session, Perfetti buried the winner after a deflected pass landed on his stick, giving the Jets the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • Perfetti scored the overtime winner at 1:37 of the extra period.

The players

Cole Perfetti

The Winnipeg Jets forward scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Gabriel Vilardi

The Winnipeg Jets forward scored a goal to tie the game in the second period.

Kyle Connor

The Winnipeg Jets forward scored a goal to tie the game in the first period.

Evander Kane

The Vancouver Canucks forward scored a goal to give his team the lead in the second period.

Drew O'Connor

The Vancouver Canucks forward scored the opening goal of the game just two minutes in.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game coming out of the break, but the guys really battled and found a way to get the two points. Perfetti's goal in overtime was a big-time play.”

— Rick Bowness, Winnipeg Jets Head Coach

What’s next

The Jets will look to build on this win when they travel to Anaheim to take on the Ducks on Friday, February 28th. The Canucks will try to snap their losing streak when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, February 29th.

The takeaway

This overtime victory provides a much-needed boost for the Winnipeg Jets as they try to solidify their playoff positioning in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, the struggling Canucks continue to fall further out of the postseason race, underscoring the need for changes in Vancouver.