Scheifele scores twice in Jets’ 5-1 win over Kings to end 11-game losing streak
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WINNIPEG – Mark Scheifele scored twice and Vladislav Namestnikov and Jonathan Toews both ended lengthy goal-scoring droughts to help the Winnipeg Jets end their 11-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
The Jets were winless (0-7-4) since a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Dec. 13. It was the longest skid since the team moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011.
Namestnikov ended a 29-game goal drought, while Toews halted a 26-game scoring slump. Cole Koepke also scored for the Jets (16-22-5) and Gabriel Vilardi contributed two assists.
Backup netminder Eric Comrie made 23 saves for Winnipeg, which played the third game of a five-game homestand at Canada Life Centre in front of 14,412 happy fans who sang loudly, did the wave in the third period and gave the team a standing ovation at the final buzzer.
Quinton Byfield scored for the Kings (18-15-10). Darcy Kuemper stopped 11 of the 16 shots he faced before he was replaced by Anton Forsberg to start the third period. Forsberg made three saves.
Namestnikov, who was a healthy scratch Thursday against Edmonton, tipped in a Logan Stanley shot at 1:31 of the first period.
Koepke’s one-timer with 1:55 left in the period made it 2-0, then Toews bumped up the lead when he tapped in his fourth goal of the season 2:07 into the second frame.
Byfield’s goal seven minutes later was unsuccessfully challenged by Jets head coach Scott Arniel for interference.
Scheifele scored on the power play at 12:35 when his pass from behind the net bounced off Byfield’s skate and past Kuemper, giving Winnipeg a 4-1 lead. He followed up with his team-leading 22nd goal of the season with 43 seconds remaining in the period.
TAKEAWAYS
Jets: Namestnikov’s benching seemed to spark the veteran, and his teammates. It was his first goal since Nov. 1. Nino Niederreiter picked up an assist for his first point in 18 games. Kyle Connor extended his point streak to five games with an assist. Forward Morgan Barron and defenceman Neal Pionk were out with injuries.
Kings: Forward Anze Kopitar (lower body) missed his second straight game. Los Angeles is 2-3-1 in its past six games.
KEY MOMENT
Comrie made a big save on Jeff Malott with 1:32 left in the second period. Scheifele scored 49 seconds later.
KEY STAT
Heading into the game, the Jets had lost three of the previous four games in which they held multi-goal leads.
UP NEXT
Kings: Take on the Oilers in Edmonton on Saturday night.
Jets: Host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2026.