Hellebuyck makes 28 saves as Jets stop Flames
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Winnipeg Jets channeled their inner Dale Hawerchuks and Teemu Selannes to post an impressive 2-0 victory over the Calgary Flames Monday night at the MTS Centre.
Sporting their Heritage Classic jerseys, which pay tribute to the city's hockey history in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, the Jets got goals from two of their leaders, defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and right winger Blake Wheeler. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots to record his third shutout of the season and fifth of his career.
Chad Johnson made 25 saves for Calgary (22-19-2).
The Jets (20-20-3) opened the scoring when Byfuglien picked off a Flames' pass in his own zone and head-manned the puck to right winger Drew Stafford, who gave it right back to the big defenseman as he picked up speed. Byfuglien went wide down the right side, curled in around a defender just before the goal line and roofed the puck over Johnson's glove at 10:21 of the first period.
The Jets had several opportunities to increase the lead before the period was out, including a short-handed three-on-one rush, but couldn't solve Johnson.
The next best chance came halfway through the second when Stafford, subbing for rookie Patrik Laine on the Jets' top line, sprung left winger Nik Ehlers on a breakaway. Ehlers tried to go between the pads of Johnson, but was denied.
Laine is out indefinitely with a concussion after getting leveled in Buffalo during the weekend. He watched the game from the press box, sporting a pink dress shirt and matching socks and a toque.
Flames leading goal scorer Johnny Gaudreau was sent in on a breakaway with less than a minute to go in the second period but didn't get a shot away as he tried to deke Hellebuyck.
The Jets finally scored a second goal when Wheeler stripped TJ Brodie of the puck near the Flames blue line and went in and scored on a breakaway at 3:16 of the third period.
NOTES: The Jets wore their Heritage Classic jerseys for the second time this season. They wore the retro uniforms against the Edmonton Oilers in October and will don them a final time on March 19 against the Minnesota Wild. ... The Jets' healthy scratches were D Mark Stuart and LW Brandon Tanev. ... Joining them in the press box were Flames C Freddie Hamilton, RW Troy Brouwer and D Brett Kulak. ... Flames LW Matthew Tkachuk saw his a nine-game point streak end. It was the longest streak of the season by a rookie. His dad, Keith, scored 144 goals for Jets from 1992-96 ... The Flames played their 10th of 11 consecutive games against Pacific Division opponents. The are 6-4-0 in that span.