Jets' goaltender Comrie puts 'curse' to rest with 5-2 win over Flames

Winnipeg Jets' goaltender Eric Comrie (1) makes a save on Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman (20) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade

WINNIPEG - Some were starting to whisper about a 鈥楥omrie Curse.鈥

Winnipeg Jets backup goalie Eric Comrie just could not buy a win in his previous eight outings (0-7-1). Although he played well, his teammates were not scoring enough goals for him to be able to post his fourth win of the season.

Well, Comrie finally got the support he need on Sunday when Winnipeg scored five goals and beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 before 14,491 witnesses at Canada Life Centre.

Comrie鈥檚 teammates had expressed how badly they felt for him during that dry spell and celebrated his victory.

鈥淚t feels really good,鈥 said Gabriel Vilardi, who had two goals and two assists to lead Winnipeg. 鈥淗e's earned that. He's played so well for us, and we haven't been giving him any run support. And finally, we did, and per usual, he played his game and we got the win for him.鈥

Comrie admitted he was relieved to finally post his fourth victory 鈥 his first since Nov. 1.

鈥淧robably a little different than the first three, a little more relieving, I'd say,鈥 said Comrie, who made 20 saves.

鈥淏ut you know what? I know it has been a while since I won, but my game was right the whole time. I thought I was playing the right way. I mean, of course, it鈥檚 very frustrating. You're not winning, and it's tough. I think Flats (goalie coach Wade Flaherty) and Helle (Connor Hellebuyck) kept my head on straight. But they were really happy the way I was playing.

鈥淚 was really happy with the way I was playing. Just wasn't getting wins, and at the end of the day, our job is to get wins, but I was happy with my game. So, the result finally came.鈥

Was he starting to wonder if he would ever win again?

鈥淵eah, you know, honestly, it did creep in,鈥 Comrie responded. 鈥淏ut you don't ever want to think that. You never want to think that.

"I mean, you never want to say, 鈥楬ey, I got to be perfect. I got to do this, and I got to be that.鈥 But I want to just play my game and be me and be what I have to and just do what I do, and have fun out there and play my structure. 鈥 I'm a competitive guy. I'm a human being. I want to win games. I want to win stuff."

The Jets had supported him throughout the drought.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a very tight group in this room,鈥 Comrie said. 鈥淎ll of us are very good friends. (Mark) Scheifele 鈥 was the officiant at my wedding. So, we鈥檙e a very close group in here. We have a lot of fun together and it鈥檚 a great time.鈥

Kyle Connor, who had a goal and two helpers, Mason Appleton and Scheifele also scored to help Comrie get over that hump.

鈥淵eah, that was good to see,鈥 said Jets coach Scott Arniel. 鈥淥bviously, we talked about it a few times here, us not scoring goals (for Comrie). For us to get up like we did was real good, and then he still got tested.

"There were some good looks where he had to come up big, but the boys were pretty excited for him after the game.鈥

The Jets continued their dominance on the power play, going 2-for-2.

鈥淲e are capitalizing when we get the opportunities,鈥 Vilardi said.

MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary.

This report by 春色直播was first published Jan. 26, 2025.

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