Top line delivers for the Winnipeg Jets as Gabriel Vilardi has four points in 5-2 win over his former Kings team

The Jets end the road trip with an impressive 5-2 win over the Kings as they improve to 17-9-2 and take three of four games away from Manitoba. They’ve won five of their last six games as they keep pace in their quest for top spot in the Central.

For those who would like to take a deeper dive into the advanced stats click here to see the results from the game via Natural Stat Trick.

Notable:

Dylan DeMelo played in his 500th NHL game tnt. 241 of those have come with Winnipeg.

The Jets weren’t happy with the opening goal of the game as they likely felt the ref made a weak penalty call against Nate Schmidt, and then didn’t call a cross-check against Dylan Samberg seconds before the opening goal of the game.

The second goal of the game was a stinker against Connor Hellebuyck who was beat by a shot from behind the goal line as it went off his bucket and into the back of the net.

Early in the middle frame Connor Hellebuyck made the 13,000th save of his career. Since he’s become an NHLer in 2015-16 no goalie has made more saves (or faced more shots, or played in as many games) as the Jets netminder.

The Jets opened the scoring with a Nikolaj Ehlers snipe and that opened the floodgates as they took all the momentum for basically the remainder of the hockey game.

As nice as Ehlers first goal was his second was even better taking the puck with speed and then ripping another shot top corner on Talbot to tie the game for the Jets. Mark Scheifele with the secondary assist gets to the 20 assist mark on the season. He’s on pace for around 60 this season.

But they weren’t done as they completed the comeback scoring a third goal just 1:41 after they tied the game to take the lead on Mark Scheifele’s 10th goal of the season as he buried a rebound past Talbot.

Top line was buzzing at this point and they weren’t done yet.

Gabriel Vilardi would pick up his fourth point of the night (first time he’s ever had a four point night) early in the 3rd period off a nifty backhand.  A goal and three primary assists in his first full game against his former team (obviously he left game three of this season early in the 1st) is not too shabby.

Winnipeg impressively controlled play despite being up two goals and then Mark Scheifele with his second of the game with under two seconds remaining to make it a 5-2 contest. Nikolaj Ehlers with his fourth point of the night on that play.

Connor Hellebuyck continues his blazing hot play (despite wanting that second goal back) as he wins his eighth game in his last 10 starts.

Multi Point Game:

Nikolaj Ehlers 2G 2A
Gabriel Vilardi 1G 3A
Mark Scheifele 2G 1A

Highlights:

Coach post-game media:

Illegal Curve Post-Game Show:

Up next:

The Jets are off tomorrow as they return to Winnipeg for four straight games. Start your day with the Morning Papers which will go live at 7 am tomorrow on illegalcurve.com.

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