WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored at 2:06 of overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
Cole Perfetti forced the extra frame for Winnipeg, tying the game 2-2 with just 38.6 seconds remaining in regulation. Dylan Samberg, who assisted on Scheifele's winner, also scored in the first period for the Jets, who went to overtime for the fourth consecutive game.
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Winnipeg Jets' Cole Koepke (top) collides with Chicago Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel (6) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago Blackhawks' Alex Vlasic (72) passes the puck past Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
A shot deflected by Chicago Blackhawks' Landon Slaggert (left) goes over Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with Cole Perfetti (91) during the overtime period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago Blackhawks' Alex Vlasic (72) checks Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Greene scored for Chicago. Connor Bedard picked up two assists.
Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves for the victory. Spencer Knight stopped 29 shots for the Blackhawks.
The Jets pulled Hellebuyck for the extra attacker and netted the equalizer when Perfetti buried the late chance. The goal validated a second-period line shuffle that had Perfetti placed on a line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi.
By forcing the extra frame, the Jets went to overtime for the fourth consecutive game. It was a crucial late push to grab two points as they kicked off a critical eight-game homestand.
Chicago’s special teams continue to be a primary driver of the squad’s offense. With Teravainen’s first-period goal, the Blackhawks now have a power-play goal in four consecutive games.
Winnipeg picked up its seventh straight home victory over Chicago and improved to 4-10 in overtime games this season.
Blackhawks: Host Vancouver on Friday.
Jets: Host Tampa Bay on Thursday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Winnipeg Jets' Cole Koepke (top) collides with Chicago Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel (6) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago Blackhawks' Alex Vlasic (72) passes the puck past Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
A shot deflected by Chicago Blackhawks' Landon Slaggert (left) goes over Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with Cole Perfetti (91) during the overtime period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago Blackhawks' Alex Vlasic (72) checks Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Tuesday March 3, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The midterms are here.
The 2026 campaign kicked off Tuesday with high-profile primary elections in Texas, where Republican Sen. John Cornyn is heading toward a runoff vote against state attorney general Ken Paxton. Democrats were deciding between state Rep. James Talarico and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
For all the focus on Texas, elections in North Carolina could have a bigger impact on which party ultimately wins the Senate majority in the fall.
In the first election since President Donald Trump joined Israel in launching dramatic attacks on Iran, there were also contests in Arkansas.
Here are some takeaways:
One of this year’s marquee Senate contests is set.
Democrat Roy Cooper will face Republican Michael Whatley in a race that’s critical to deciding control of the Senate in November.
Both parties have reason to feel confident about their chances in the general election.
For Democrats, Cooper is an ideal candidate in one of the most politically competitive states. A former two-term governor, he’s proven he can win statewide elections.
Republicans, meanwhile, are going into the campaign with a candidate who is backed by Trump, an endorsement that could make the difference energizing voters during an otherwise challenging year for the GOP. And as the former chair of the Republican National Committee, Whatley is familiar with party resources and how they can be deployed during a tough campaign.
Still, both candidates must overcome notable challenges. While Democrats like Cooper have been successful in races for governor, they’ve struggled in Senate contests. Kay Hagan was the last Democrat to win a Senate race in North Carolina — way back in 2008.
And while Trump’s endorsement will help Whatley turn out the GOP base, it will do little to help him make inroads with moderate or independent voters who could make the difference.
Just as a refresher, Trump is the reason this is an open Senate contest in the first place. His disagreements with the incumbent Republican, Thom Tillis, prompted the two-term senator to decide against reelection.
Get ready for what could be a messy race to November — one where spending could hit $1 billion.
Cornyn and Paxton will keep fighting for the GOP nomination through a May 26 runoff.
For Cornyn, the results keep his hopes of remaining in the Senate alive. But it’s still something of an embarrassment that the four-term senator couldn’t win the race outright.
And it’s a reminder of how, a decade into his political career, Trump continues to roil the GOP. Though Cornyn has expressed occasional skepticism of Trump, he has been a reliable ally to the president. Paxton, however, claimed he was more aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, effectively splitting support that may have otherwise gone to Cornyn.
Trump didn’t endorse either candidate during the primary, but the results may raise pressure on him to take a side. Republicans in Washington have expressed concern that Paxton, who has well-documented political baggage, may be a weaker candidate in the general election.
Regardless of what happens, expect more cash to be pumped into the race. Cornyn and well-funded allied groups spent at least $64 million in television advertising alone since July.
While the race goes on, one person will be missing: Wesley Hunt. The congressman was a late entry into what had been a head-on contest between Cornyn and Paxton. His presence in the race further divided Republicans, making the runoff harder to avoid.
In two major Texas counties — Dallas and Williamson — there was significant confusion over where voters could cast their ballot. For years, they could vote anywhere in the county. But for this primary, the local Republican parties opted against countywide voting.
With state law mandating that both parties have to agree to use the countywide system, voters could only vote at their assigned precinct — forcing many to figure out where exactly that was.
Things quickly turned messy, with lawsuits, changes to voting hours and Democrats calling foul. Crockett called the rule change an “effort to suppress the vote.” Talarico’s campaign said it was “deeply concerned.”
Political parties run their own primaries in Texas, meaning a repeat of Tuesday’s confusion is unlikely to repeat in November.
But this isn’t happening in a vacuum. Texas is central to Trump’s redistricting effort to protect the GOP’s narrow majority in the House. The president has spoken of the need to “nationalize” elections.
Republicans in Congress have pushed legislation that would impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements. The bill is a long shot in the Senate but serves as another reminder of GOP efforts to change election rules heading into November.
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
Cataleya Davis holds a poster promoting primary candidate for U.S. Senate Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, during a campaign stop in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Supporters of James Talarico, a Texas Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate, cheer during an event, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Brenda Bazán)
Kalpesh Patel and his 12-year-old daughter Keya pose for a photo with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, during a campaign stop in The Woodlands, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Keya recently completed a project on Cornyn for her seventh grade Texas history class. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, greets supporters during a campaign stop, in Waco, Texas, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
