Illegal Curve Hockey

The Jets rode a red-hot power play to their first win of the season, scoring three times with the man advantage before holding off a late Red Wings push for a 3-2 victory in Detroit. Kyle Connor scored twice, Cole Perfetti opened the scoring and Tyrel Bauer made his presence felt with his second NHL fight as Winnipeg improved to 1-0-1.

Once the final buzzer sounded, the analysis began!

Check out what Drew, Ezra and Dave had to say about the Jets’ 3-2 win over the Red Wings, including the key moments, standout performances and all the reaction from the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show.

The Jets have played their first game of the season, blowing a late third-period lead to the Bruins before ultimately falling 4-3 in an exciting overtime finish. We shared some more thoughts on the season opener, look ahead to the two-game road trip out east that begins Sunday in Detroit, discuss the NHL debuts of Tyrel Bauer and Viggo Björck, and preview this afternoon’s Moose and Wolves season opener in Winnipeg.

Guest: Jets team reporter Jamie Thomas at 58:40

The Jets opened the 2026-27 season with a back-and-forth battle against the Bruins, but had to settle for a single point in a 4-3 overtime loss. Dylan DeMelo scored Winnipeg’s first goal of the season, Kyle Connor extended his remarkable season-opening goal streak to nine straight years and Mario Ferraro gave the Jets a late second-period lead before Boston forced overtime and J.J. Peterka ended it in the extra frame.

Once the final buzzer sounded, the analysis began!

Check out what Drew, Ezra and Dave had to say about the Jets’ season opener, including the NHL debuts of Viggo Björck and Tyrel Bauer, the key moments from the game and all the reaction from the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show.

The Winnipeg Jets kick off the 2026-27 campaign against the Boston Bruins, and we’re live from Cityplace for our first Illegal Curve Special Edition Show of the regular season. Drew, Ezra and Dave will bring you the latest news from morning skate, break down the season-opening matchup and get you set for puck drop.

Following his first summer as a pro, Jets prospect Colby Barlow heads into his second season with the Moose with a much better understanding of what it takes, both on and off the ice, to succeed at this level. We caught up with him during Moose production day to discuss his adjustment to pro hockey, offseason training, using his shot effectively, growth from the playoffs, being surrounded by fellow Jets prospects and his own NHL aspirations.

Topics:

1) How was his summer? (:12)

2) What did he focus on during offseason? (:26)

3) The jump from junior to pro/how long did it take to adjust? (1:15)

4) How long did it take him to understand it? (2:22)

5) How can he use his shot effectively at this level? (2:54)

6) Did things get easier for him towards the end of the regular season? (3:32)

7) Growth he gained in the playoffs (4:23)

8) Excitement having so many Jets prospects on the team (5:36)

9) Finding out his Owen Sound teammate Deni Goure joined the organization (6:18)

10) Having the year under his belt, allowing for hockey to be focus (7:02)

11) What was it like at Jets training camp? (7:54)

12) Seeing Tyrel Bauer and Brayden Yager up with the Jets (8:30)

13) Does he think about his own NHL debut? (8:58)

We saw Jets wavier claim Clay Stevenson on the ice for the first time with his new teammates in Winnipeg at practice.

Following skate we had a chance to catch up with the Albertan about the opportunity ahead of him, playing in Canada, his relationship with Stuart Skinner, learning from goalie coach Wade Flaherty and more.

Jets prospect Kevin He is about to embark on his first season as a pro and we caught up with him on Moose production day to discuss the challenge ahead.

Topics:

1) How was summer? (:10)

2) Opportunity to get away from the game (:24)

3) What does he do to relax? (:53)

4) Reflections on being dealt from Niagara to Flint (1:20)

5) Being a captain of an OHL team (2:00)

6) Challenge of moving to a new city (2:16)

7) Starting next step with good friend/fellow prospect Kieron Walton (3:06)

8) Describing his game and what he worked on this summer (3:51)

9) Difference from junior to pro and jump he has to make (4:28)

10) What was Jets training camp like for him? (5:08)

11) Does he set goals for the season? (5:45)

12) Excitement to be in Winnipeg and start next step (6:18)

13) Opportunity to grow with his fellow Jets prospects (6:34)

14) In OHL when he played a Jets prospect, any extra juice? (7:08)

Jets prospect Kevin He is about to embark on his first season as a pro and we caught up with him on Moose production day to discuss the challenge ahead.

Topics:

1) How was summer? (:10)

2) Opportunity to get away from the game (:24)

3) What does he do to relax? (:53)

4) Reflections on being dealt from Niagara to Flint (1:20)

5) Being a captain of an OHL team (2:00)

6) Challenge of moving to a new city (2:16)

7) Starting next step with good friend/fellow prospect Kieron Walton (3:06)

8) Describing his game and what he worked on this summer (3:51)

9) Difference from junior to pro and jump he has to make (4:28)

10) What was Jets training camp like for him? (5:08)

11) Does he set goals for the season? (5:45)

12) Excitement to be in Winnipeg and start next step (6:18)

13) Opportunity to grow with his fellow Jets prospects (6:34)

14) In OHL when he played a Jets prospect, any extra juice? (7:08)

On Manitoba Moose production day, we caught up with Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic as he prepares for his fourth pro season. He reflects on his NHL debut and Manitoba’s playoff run, discusses the people helping him develop, including Stuart Skinner, Drew MacIntyre and Wade Flaherty, and talks about helping new teammates settle in and what it would mean to see Tyrel Bauer make his NHL debut.

Topics:

1) How was his summer? (:20)

2) Impact of last season on his summer training? (:36)

3) Did he make any changes this summer? (1:08)

4) Conversations with Moose goalie coach Drew MacIntyre over summer (1:29)

5) Making his NHL debut (1:46)

6) The jump from the AHL to the NHL (2:25)

7) What the playoff experience did for him? (3:03)

8) How much fun was it? (3:52)

9) He and Domenic DiVincentiis pushing each other (4:31)

10) Learning from Stuart Skinner during training camp (4:58)

11) What's it like when Skinner asks him questions? (5:48)

12) What makes Wade Flaherty such a good goalie coach? (6:21)

13) Helping the young guys get acclimatized to the city/organization (7:32)

14) What it would mean to see Tyrel Bauer make his NHL debut! (8:35)

15) Becoming comfortable in Winnipeg (9:42)

On Manitoba Moose production day, we caught up with Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic as he prepares for his fourth pro season. He reflects on his NHL debut and Manitoba’s playoff run, discusses the people helping him develop, including Stuart Skinner, Drew MacIntyre and Wade Flaherty, and talks about helping new teammates settle in and what it would mean to see Tyrel Bauer make his NHL debut.

Topics:

1) How was his summer? (:20)

2) Impact of last season on his summer training? (:36)

3) Did he make any changes this summer? (1:08)

4) Conversations with Moose goalie coach Drew MacIntyre over summer (1:29)

5) Making his NHL debut (1:46)

6) The jump from the AHL to the NHL (2:25)

7) What the playoff experience did for him? (3:03)

8) How much fun was it? (3:52)

9) He and Domenic DiVincentiis pushing each other (4:31)

10) Learning from Stuart Skinner during training camp (4:58)

11) What\'s it like when Skinner asks him questions? (5:48)

12) What makes Wade Flaherty such a good goalie coach? (6:21)

13) Helping the young guys get acclimatized to the city/organization (7:32)

14) What it would mean to see Tyrel Bauer make his NHL debut! (8:35)

15) Becoming comfortable in Winnipeg (9:42)