Jets slam door shut on Blues' streak
RECAP:
The Winnipeg Jets have improved to 53-21-4 following a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday.
Morgan Barron and Alex Iafallo scored the goals that mattered, while captain Adam Lowry pounded one into the empty net, setting a new career-high with his 16th goal of the season.
Connor Hellebuyck matched a career-high from 2017-18 with his 44th win of the season, which also doubles as a Jets' franchise record.
After a scoreless first period, Barron opened the scoring a couple minutes into the middle stanza, but that lead did not last long. St. Louis responded five minutes later, making it 1-1 through the second frame.
Iafallo potted home a rebound for his 14th of the season off a strong cycle play from Kyle Connor midway through the third period. Winnipeg's penalty kill and six-on-five special teams came up clutch in the final moments, helping kill off the remaining time on the clock and preserving the team's record 53rd win, snapping the Blues' 12-game win streak in the process.
Despite all this, the Jets' next game may even be bigger than the one just played on Monday. Thursday's test from Dallas is against the Stars, which continue to chase Winnipeg for the Central Division's first-place crown.
HIGHLIGHTS:
PHOTOS:
The extended photo library from Monday's game vs. St. Louis is courtesy of Ray Peters:
QUOTEABLE:
Scott Arniel on Brandon Tanev:
"Energizer-bunny. He just go-go-go. Couple big hits in that first period, some real big hits. They were against the Schenn line, another top-end line and I thought they did a great job. Him, being physical. They had some D looking over the shoulder when they were going back to get pucks. Penalty kill, big shot block. He just does it. Doesn't matter if he gets hit once, twice or three times he's going to jump back in that lane."
Morgan Barron on Connor Hellebuyck:
“He always jokes about timely saves. That’s what he always says in the video when there’s a big save he makes. I think that’s what he did tonight. As much as I think we did defend well, he made some huge saves at big times. That one on Buchnevich I think it was at the end of the game. Those were huge for us; he’s been great all year. We want to defend the best we can in front of him and just let him make the saves he needs to make.”
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Jets next head out on the road for the biggest game of the year on Thursday night. In a battle for first place, the Jets will take on the host Dallas Stars, before heading to Chicago on Saturday evening for the second test of the two-game trip.
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