Game 61: Jets 4 Blues 0 post-game report

The Jets are now 36-16-9 with the 4-0 win over the Blues.  This gives Winnipeg 81 points on the season just two points back of Nashville for 1st in the Central.  They also sit six points up on the hard-charging Wild (6-2-2 in last 10) who sit 3rd in the Central.

For those who would like to take a deeper dive into the advanced stats here are the results from tonight’s game via Natural Stat Trick.

Notable:

1st:
– It was all Blues to start the game but Connor Hellebuyck making his tenth straight start was solid;
– Mark Scheifele forced a turnover and then got it to Nic Petan to open the scoring on his 2nd of the season;
– Blake Wheeler gave the Jets a 2-0 lead shortly thereafter with his 18th goal of the year;
– It was Wheeler’s 70th points of the season (18G 52A);
– Scheifele picked up his second assist of the game which was his 30th of the season (fourth straight season);
– With Chris Thorburn in the box, Kyle Connor’s 22nd gave the Jets a surprising 3-0 lead;
– Connor moved into 5th in rookie scoring with his 40th point (22G 18A);
– Wheeler had the primary assist which was his 53rd apple of the season, setting a new personal best;

2nd:
– Patrik Laine scored his 29th of the season on a rocket snipe upstairs on Jake Allen;
– It was Laine’s 13th goal 5 on 5, while he has 16 goals which have come on the power play;
– Assists to Ehlers and Copp.
– For Ehlers it was his team leading 24th point on the road;
– Copp set a career high in points. Last season he had 17 in 64 games. Got his 18th point (5G 13A) in game 61;

3rd:
– Not much happened in final frame;
– John Shannon of Sportsnet reported Vegas retained money on Brassard trade to keep him away from the Jets;
– Connor Hellebuyck made 15 saves in the final period.

Numbers:

– Blake Wheeler had a goal (18) and assist (53);
– Kyle Connor had a goal (22) and assist (18);
– Mark Scheifele had two assists (29, 30);
– Connor Hellebuyck is now 32-9-8 on the season and gets his sixth shutout of the season;
– Hellebuyck sets franchise record for shutouts in a season with 6 set by Ondrej Pavelec in 2014-15.

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Connor Hellebuyck

Coach Maurice:  Play of Connor Hellebuyck to start the game.  On the Jets play when they got their legs going.  Looking for a response from the last game against the Blues/2nd period vs Kings.  The play of Kyle Connor.  Who stood out for him tonight?

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.