Jets win big divisional tilt in final home game before christmas
RECAP:
The Winnipeg Jets have earned their 24th win of the season, beating their closest geographical rival, the Minnesota Wild 5-0 on Saturday.
Cole Perfetti had three points, Neal Pionk had two, while Connor Hellebuyck made 19 saves for his league-leading fourth shutout and league-leading 21st win of the year.
The Jets scored twice in the first period, thanks to Nikolaj Ehlers and Morgan Barron, before Pionk added another in the middle stanza - Winnipeg's second power play marker of the game. Then it was Perfetti and Vlad Namestnikov who added third period tallies, helping the Jets run away with their eighth-straight victory over the Wild, to which they have outscored their opponents 31-12.
Winnipeg is now 6-2-1 in its last nine games and remains atop the NHL with 24 wins and 49 points in 35 games played, with just one more test before the Christmas break. That game is a rare 1:00 PM central showdown with the always entertaining Toronto Maple Leafs in Ontario. It will be aired live on TSN.
HIGHLIGHTS:
PHOTOS:
The extended photo library from Saturday's game vs. Minnesota is courtesy of Scott Stroh and James Carey Lauder:
QUOTEABLE:
Morgan Barron on his disbelief that the Jets have beaten the Wild eight times in a row:
“No, I can’t. They’re obviously a good team. You can see where they are in the standings. I’m surprised that you said eight in a row because it feels like a battle every time that we play them.”
Scott Arniel on Adam Lowry's injury concern:
"He was just banged up a little bit there. He got banged up on one of his shifts. He should be fine."
WHAT’S NEXT:
Winnipeg will travel to Toronto for a 1:00 PM Monday afternoon test with the Maple Leafs in the team's final game before the short Christmas break. That one can be viewed live on TSN.
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