Bonino (hat trick), Malkin lead Penguins past Jets
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Winnipeg Jets found out the hard way that the Pittsburgh Penguins have the third-best power play in the NHL, giving up three goals while a man short en route to a 7-4 loss at the MTS Centre.
Third-line center Nick Bonino led the way with a hat trick and second-line center Evgeni Malkin added a pair while Matt Murray overcame a shaky start to turn aside 32 shots in the Penguins net.
Connor Hellebuyck gave up five goals on 15 shots before being pulled in favor of Michael Hutchinson in the second period.
The Jets had three one-goal leads in the first period, finishing the first 20 minutes with a 3-2 advantage but the Penguins scored four in the second frame -- including three in 57 seconds -- to salt the game away.
Jets left winger Shawn Matthias opened the scoring for the home team when he took a pretty pass from Adam Lowry and deked Murray on his backhand side, roofing the puck over the goalie's glove for his eighth of the season at 4:18.
Pittsburgh replied just 25 seconds later when Bonino picked up a loose puck off the sideboards to the left of Hellebuyck and rifled a wrist shot over his right shoulder for his 10th of the season.
The Jets thought they regained the lead when Jacob Trouba took the puck at his right point position, carried it deep into the Penguins zone and passed it out front to center Andrew Copp, who took a couple of whacks at it before jamming it past Murray at 8:18. Pittsburgh challenged the goal claiming goaltender interference and the off-ice officials backed them up.
The Jets took the lead for real 42 seconds later when left winger Nik Ehlers took a drop pass from Trouba just inside the Pens blueline and went bar-down over Murray's glove. It was his 22nd of the season.
The Penguins evened it up again when Malkin slyly skated out of his own zone while his teammates battled for the puck in deep. Right winger Phil Kessel won the battle and found Malkin waiting by himself at the Jets blue line. He skated in all alone and ripped a low wrist shot past Hellebuyck for his 30th of the season.
The game took an ugly turn a minute later when Penguins left winger Tom Sestito hit Toby Enstrom from behind in the Jets corner, sending the defenseman to the ice in a crumpled heap. He skated off under his own power a few moments later and went to the Jets dressing room. Sestito was given a five-minute major for hitting from behind and a game misconduct at 13:10. Enstrom did not return.
The Jets responded by taking their third one-goal lead of the period when center Mark Scheifele cut across the slot and wristed a shot at Murray, who had it pop out of his glove hand, giving defenseman Dustin Byfuglien enough time to whack home his 10th of the season at 16:10.
With defenseman Jets defenseman Ben Chiarot off for holding at 7:51 of the second period, the Penguins went on a two-man advantage less than a minute later when center Bryan Little was sent off for hooking.
The Penguins made the Jets pay.
Justin Schultz tied it 3-3 with a slap shot from the high slot at 9:09 and Bonino scored his second of the night 20 seconds later. With an assist, Malkin, who had an earlier fight with Jets captain Blake Wheeler, completed the Gordie Howe hat trick.
Malkin gave the Pens a two-goal lead despite having Scheifele draped all over him in the slot. His wrist shot beat Hellebuyck high to the glove side at 10:06.
That was three goals in 57 seconds, for those keeping score at home. It was also enough for coach Paul Maurice who lifted Hellebuyck and replaced him with Michael Hutchinson.
It didn't matter who was in net for Bonino, who potted his hat trick on yet another power play with 1:39 remaining in the second period, giving the visitors a 6-3 lead.
Penguins left winger Jake Guentzel scored his ninth of the season and Jets left winger Marko Dano notched his fourth of the year in garbage time.
NOTES: In the press box for the Penguins were RW Carter Rowney, RW Patric Hornqvist and D Derrick Pouliot. D Kris Letang did not make the trip. ... Joining them from the Jets were D Mark Stuart, RW Nic Petan and G Ondrej Pavelec. ... Pens D Ron Hainsey, who played for the Jets from 2011-13, is preparing for his first NHL playoff game. He has played 898 regular-season contests, the most among players who haven't reached the postseason. ... Jets rookie RW Patrik Laine leads all first-year players with 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points. Toronto C Auston Mathews is second with 31 goals and 55 points.