Nikolaj Ehlers scores OT goal to lift unbeaten Winnipeg to 4-3 win over Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — Nikolaj Ehlers scored 1:26 into overtime and the Winnipeg Jets remained unbeaten this season with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.

Nino Niederreiter had two goals for Winnipeg, Gabriel Vilardi scored one and Connor Hellebuyck had 29 saves as the Jets improved to 7-0.

Matty Beniers had two goals and an assist for Seattle.

Beniers scored first at 11:27 of the first period to put the Kraken ahead 1-0. Seattle’s lead disappeared in the second period, when Niederreiter tied it with a goal at 3:56.

Vilardi put one past Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord at 15:05 of the second to give the Jets a 2-1 lead.

Niederreiter scored again just over four minutes into the third period to put the Jets ahead by two.

Jordan Eberle made it a one-score game with 9:58 left with his sixth goal in Seattle's first eight games, and Beniers tapped in his second with 3:22 remaining to tie it at 3-3.

Daccord finished with 32 saves.

Kraken: Beniers’ goals were his first two of the season. He didn’t score his second goal last season until Seattle’s 18th game.

Jets: Winnipeg, which ranks second in the league in scoring, has now scored three or more goals in four consecutive games, and has reached the mark in five of its seven contests this season.

The Kraken appeared to take a 2-1 lead on Oliver Bjorkstrand's goal midway through the second period, but the goal was disallowed after review due to goaltender interference. Vilardi put Winnipeg ahead just a few minutes later, making that overturned call sting even more.

Winnipeg outshot the Kraken after the first period, 29-20, with four of those shots finding the back of the net.

The Jets will play at Calgary on Saturday night, while the Kraken will play host to Carolina.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi looks to shoot as Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde, left, looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with teammate Mark Scheifele (55) as Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (62) looks away during overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. The Jets won 4-3 in overtime. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle, center facing, reacts to scoring a goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, back center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) shoots as Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle (7) looks on, but his shot is blocked by goaltender Joey Daccord, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, front center, celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers reacts to scoring as Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk, left, looks away during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with center Mark Scheifele (55) as Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour, center, looks away during overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Seattle. The Jets won 4-3 in overtime. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay expects star receiver Cooper Kupp to stay right where he is.

McVay criticized media speculation about the possibility of the Rams trading Kupp after the Super Bowl 56 MVP returned from injury in Los Angeles' 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.

“I think a lot of the things that were out there, speculation was exactly what it was,” McVay said. “I’m really glad to have Cooper Kupp back with us, and that’s what I expect to stay that way.”

Kupp had been blanketed by trade rumors this week as he neared his return from a four-game absence with an ankle injury. The 2021 AP Offensive Player of the Year had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in the second victory in five days for the Rams (3-4), catapulting them back into contention in the NFC West.

With McVay's Rams looking like a possible contender again, the prospect of trading their top receiver seems less likely. While McVay acknowledged that other teams want the veteran wideout, the coach said he was disappointed by the content of the speculation around Kupp, who has been with the Rams for McVay's entire career.

“Here’s what I’ll tell you: Teams reached out,” McVay said. “Some of the things I’ve seen out there, they’re just not true. We’ve addressed that with those individuals. Teams have called about him, and really we let him know what the dialogue was there. And then there’s a lot of stuff out there where there’s not a lot of accountability to the reports, and that’s unfortunate.”

Kupp addressed his future during the short week of preparation, saying he largely ignored the speculation. After making a handful of big plays in a balanced offensive effort against Minnesota, Kupp still wasn't interested in thinking about changing teams.

“There's all that stuff out there, but there's something that was cool about all that stuff going on outside the facility, but on a short week, every minute (I) spent preparing to come out here and play,” Kupp said. “It gave me the opportunity to focus in on being where my feet are, being able to prepare as best as I can, and then come out here and let it rip.”

Kupp caught a 7-yard TD pass from Matthew Stafford in the second quarter against Minnesota. He then made a key 27-yard catch for a first down late in the fourth quarter while the Rams finished off their victory.

Kupp has spent his entire eight-year career with the Rams, but he has played in only 24 of Los Angeles' 41 games since his career-defining string of performances on the way to a championship in the 2021-22 season. Kupp had 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns during the 2021 regular season.

Kupp has two years left on a three-year contract extension worth about $80 million.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) celebrates with tight end Colby Parkinson (86) after catching a 7-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)