Adam Lowry and Neal Pionk have plenty in common.

Not only are they good hockey players, they are also good humans who have planted their roots deep in Winnipeg. They are also consummate professionals, fierce competitors and terrific teammates who have shown an innate ability to step up when needed.

Take Sunday night for example. Lowry was thrust into being the team’s No. 1 centre with Mark Scheifele missing a second straight game due to an upper-body injury. And Pionk was suddenly the top blue-liner with Josh Morrissey knocked out of the game in the first period.

Winnipeg Jets’ Neal Pionk (left) played a career-high 46 minutes and 15 seconds Sunday night at Canada Life Centre, just eight seconds short of the NHL’s all-time record for a Game 7. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press)

This had a popular analytics writer, known on social media as JFresh (@JFreshHockey), posting the following on his X account midway through Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues with the Jets in a two-goal hole and starting at a third-straight first-round playoff exit:

“There will be a lot of Hellebuyck discourse but admittedly it’s not ideal to try and win a game 7 with Neal Pionk as your #1 defenceman and Adam Lowry as your #1 centre,” he wrote.

That aged about as well as egg salad left out in the summer sun.

Lowry would show why he’s the face of the team by not only playing a pivotal role in Cole Perfetti’s game-tying goal with less than three seconds remaining in regulation, but then by scoring the dramatic double-overtime dagger which sent the Jets on to the second round.

“Just leads by example, does everything the right way. When you see a guy like that putting his body on the line, doing everything he possibly can for this team, you have no choice but to follow,” Perfetti said of the captain.

“He is vocal in the room, but I think the way that he leads this team is through his actions and through his play. When he’s doing that and giving everything he has every second of his shift, you have no choice but to follow him and give everything you have. We’re lucky to have him as our leader.”

Winnipeg Jets’ Neal Pionk (right) celebrates Cole Perfetti’s (left) game-tying goal with less than three seconds remaining in regulation Sunday night in Winnipeg. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press)

Pionk, meanwhile, had the game of his life. He played a career-high 46 minutes and 15 seconds — just eight seconds short of the NHL’s all-time record for a Game 7 — while chipping in with three assists including firing the shot which struck Lowry on the way into the net. He played 59 shifts and dished out six hits and blocking four shots.

Pionk just signed a six-year contract extension worth a total of US$42 million and just showed his worth in one memorable, magical night.

“The winning goal, P getting that puck to the net front and Low getting a piece of it. When those guys have to play those heavy minutes like that, it was special and that’s guys stepping up and that’s what we needed,” sad Jets head coach Scott Arniel.

Lowry was recently named Winnipeg’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee, which is awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

“The winning goal, P getting that puck to the net front and Low getting a piece of it. When those guys have to play those heavy minutes like that, it was special and that’s guys stepping up and that’s what we needed.”– Jets head coach Scott Arniel

You couldn’t find a better candidate than the 31-year-old, who was the second-ever draft pick of the 2.0 Jets back in 2011. The first, of course, was Scheifele.

Following Sunday’s game, there was an emotional exchange broadcast for the hockey world to see between Lowry and former Jets head coach Rick Bowness, who is now serving on the TNT panel.

“You know what I think of you,” Bowness began.

“Bones! Ah, you’ll bring a tear to my eye,” said Lowry.

“I know man, I know. Listen, that’s why you’re captain. That effort, that gutsy effort from that team tonight personifies you,” said Bowness, who stripped Blake Wheeler of the captaincy prior to the 2022-23 campaign, then gave the “C” to Lowry prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.

“Your work ethic, your team commitment, your compete. Man, I couldn’t be happier for you. You know I love you. You know I miss you. I couldn’t be happier for you. I’m very, very proud of you.”

Lowry was visibly moved as he sat in a mostly empty Canada Life Centre, speaking to Bowness on live TV.

Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry (left) celebrates his game-winning goal in double overtime Sunday night at Canada Life Centre. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press)

“Thanks, Bones. Those words mean a lot to me. I love you. I appreciate the relationship, the time we got to spend together,” said Lowry, who mentioned seeing Bowness at a Jets game near the end of March and that he’s happy his wife, Judy, is doing well after some previous medical issues.

“We miss you in Winnipeg.”

Lowry then showed why he’s such a valuable ambassador not only for the organization but the city itself.

“Winnipeg gets a lot of flak. But it’s a great community and we have tremendous support,” Lowry began as he addressed the international audience.

“It’s a great organization. I’ve been fortunate to play my whole career here. We have an owner who cares deeply about us. We’ve got a real tight group of guys. Unfortunately, the last couple years we just haven’t performed in the playoffs. You get a bad rap, people don’t want to come to Winnipeg and whatnot, but we have a group of guys that love coming to the rink and love trying to get better. This city supports us everywhere you go.”

As for Pionk, the 29-year-old undrafted college free agent who was obtained in the Jacob Trouba trade, was recently voted as Winnipeg’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee, which is awarded annually to the player who “best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game.”

“Listen, that’s why you’re captain. That effort, that gutsy effort from that team tonight personifies you.”– former Jets head coach Rick Bowness speaking to Jets captain Adam Lowry on live TV

It’s been well-documented how Pionk was best friends of Adam Johnson, the pro hockey player who died from an on-ice injury in 2023. He’s also battled plenty of injuries and adversity in his career, often playing through intense pain, and has been a frequent target from some very vocal critics who have wanted the Jets to move on from him.

Obviously, the hope is that Scheifele will be back soon and Morrissey’s ailment isn’t serious. The Jets took a well-deserved day off Monday, so no immediate updates on their status were available. They’ll return to the ice for practice on Tuesday to prepare for the start of a second-round series with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night at Canada Life Centre.

But if players such as Lowry and Pionk are called upon to take on even bigger roles in their absences, is there any doubt they’ll answer the bell?

After all, when the club needed a boost in its biggest game of their season on Sunday, Lowry and Pionk were leading the way. That’s just who they are.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg

Mike McIntyre Reporter

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.

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