WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Penguins’ surprising string of success was bound to end at some juncture, and Saturday was its end date.

For the first time this season, the Penguins fell in the second leg of a back-to-back, this by a 2-1 decision to the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. The Jets, who entered the evening on a five-game losing streak, exacted revenge on the Penguins for their 3-0 victory at PPG Paints Arena earlier in the week.

It’d have been difficult to conclude the Penguins were fresh off a game against the Minnesota Wild the night prior with the way they collectively flew around the ice and traded chances with the Jets the game’s first 10 minutes. That approach, while yielding golden scoring chances early for Lars Eller, Colin White and others, resulted in Winnipeg netting the game’s first goal.

Jake Guentzel made an ill-advised pass in Winnipeg’s end that Nikolaj Ehlers got ahold of, creating a 2-on-1 for the Jets that Mark Scheifele finished off with ease. Once the pace slowed, the Penguins’ fortunes did not turn in their favor, either.

Instead, they carried a 2-0 deficit into the first intermission because of a brilliant goal from Nino Niederreiter. He stationed himself in front of the Penguins’ crease, and then got to a pass that ricocheted off the end boards before Tristan Jarry to pocket the Jets’ second of the opening period.

For as frenetic as the game started, the inverse applied to the second period. It was hardly a high-event frame, though the Penguins out-shot the Jets by a wide margin and had eight high-danger scoring chances compared to Winnipeg’s one, per Natural Stat Trick.

Despite coming up empty on a pair of power plays, Bryan Rust got the Penguins on the board before the break. Erik Karlsson fired a wrister from the blue line that Rust deflected and tucked into the top right corner of the net to end Connor Hellebuyck’s shutout bid. The goal was Rust’s second in as many games.

The Penguins were able to keep it a one-score contest throughout the third, with Jarry making a number of clutch saves. He also benefited from his posts, as the one to Jarry’s right kept a Sean Monahan short-handed shot out of his net.

The visitors, though, were unable to sneak a second goal past Hellebuyck. The Penguins wrapped up a quick two-game road trip with just three goals in six periods, and no points to show for their efforts in a pair of one-score losses.

ICE CHIPS

— John Ludvig, a healthy scratch since being activated from long-term injured reserve, entered the lineup for Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Ludvig, who last played on New Year’s Eve, partnered with Chad Ruhwedel.

— Jeff Carter centered the fourth line with Noel Acciari still sidelined due to a concussion. Colin White, who worked the pivot Friday night against the Minnesota Wild, slotted in at right wing on Carter’s line.

— Jesse Puljujarvi entered the top six in his third game with the Penguins. He switched spots with Drew O’Connor, who dropped down to right wing on Lars Eller’s line.

— Saturday marked Jansen Harkins’ first back in Winnipeg against his former team. Harkins, who skated in 154 career games for the Jets across four seasons, departed the contest late in the second period. He absorbed a big hit from Logan Stanley, leaving Harkins woozy on the Penguins’ bench before he went to the dressing room.

— Jarry’s shutout streak against the Jets ended at two games. He had blanked Winnipeg in each of his past starts, including his sixth of the season on Tuesday.

STAT N’AT

1 — Losses by the Penguins on the second leg of a back-to-back this season. Their record dropped to 6-1-0 in such contests with Saturday’s defeat.

COMING UP

The Penguins have a scheduled off day Sunday. They’ll return to practice Monday and Tuesday in Cranberry before another back-to-back.

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