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Come Fan with UsThursday, July 9, 2026

Jets vs. Capitals: Luck abandons Winnipeg on Brooks Laich goal

Stick check. Bad bounce. Trip. Goal.

Marianne Helm


Brooks Laich got his first goal of the season on Friday, and he owes Lady Luck a huge thank you. Maybe even a gift basket.

Everything went wrong for the Winnipeg Jets on the Capitals' first of the game, starting with Dustin Byfuglien's failed attempt to flick the puck out of the zone at the blue line. Laich intercepted it. and away the two went into the Jets' zone.

The puck wheeled around to the far side of the ice, and Derek Meech tried to clear it again. Instead, it bounced off the skate of a drifting Blake Wheeler and careened back into the corner, where Byfuglien battled with two Capitals for possession.

And then Buff tripped on the puck. No, really.

Mike Ribeiro picked it up, dished to Laich and the Caps got the early lead.

Oh, and a few minutes later the Caps got a two-on-one off a turnover and scored again. The first period ended with the home crowd booing the Jets.

So, yeah. Not a great start.

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