Jets Fall again to rival stars
RECAP:
The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to 0-1-0 on the season following a 5-4 opening night loss to the Dallas Stars.
On the night the team hung its Central Division Champion and Presidents' Cup banners in the rafters and honoured their multi trophy-winning goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck allowed five goals - including three in short order at the start of the third period, which ultimately did the Jets in.
Kyle Connor, fresh off his $96 million contract extension, scored three goals, including two in the third period to make it a one-goal game, but the Jets were unable to fully bounce back and could not find the equalizer with Hellebuyck on the bench in the dying seconds.
Morgan Barron got Winnipeg's other goal, on what was a sensational shorthanded effort, to which he beat out two members of the Stars to the Dallas net before tucking the puck past Jake Oettinger.
In all, it wasn't a horrible game for Winnipeg, just a stretch of 2:22 that saw the visitors strike three times. And it ultimately did the Jets in.
Jonathan Toews made his return to the NHL on Thursday, to which he skated in over 18 minutes of ice time, while playing alongside Nikita Chibrikov and Gustav Nyquist/Alex Iafallo on the team's second line. He also played some minutes on the Jets' second power play unit.
And he didn't look all that out of place.
With time, the 37-year-old should be able to find himself in a comfortable spot when his regular linemates return from injury.
The start will not be one that Hellebuyck looks back fondly upon. Luckily it will only be a day-and-a-half until the Jets are back in action, as the Los Angeles Kings make their way to town for a 12:30 PM affair on Saturday afternoon. That game can be streamed live on TSN.
HIGHLIGHTS:
PHOTOS:
The extended photo library from Thursday's game vs. Dallas is courtesy of Scott Stroh:
QUOTEABLE:
Jonathan Toews on his emotions after returning to the game after 910 days away:
“I think it is just really exciting before the game. But then once you get your legs out under you, you just go out there and play. But as the game went on you just try not to think about it too much and just enjoyed it. You enjoy it when you play your best, and I just tried to find a way to do that.”
Kyle Connor on his team's response being down 5-1:
"I mean, that's it. You know, we didn't play a complete 60 tonight. Parts the first, second, we showed spurts of it. And, obviously the five on three, it's almost, it's right there. We almost get it. And, then bad balance and negative momentum. Next thing we're down a couple goals. And you give it a good team like that, 5-1 lead, it's tough, but this is a resilient group. We've shown that a lot throughout the last year and over the past. And yeah, it was a great response. So we can take that out of it for sure."
WHAT’S NEXT:
Next up for Winnipeg is a Saturday afternoon affair, as the Los Angeles Kings roll into town for a 12:30 PM central start.
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