Jets edge Canucks to keep slim hopes alive
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Winnipeg Jets' playoff hopes may be dangling by a tenuous thread, but after a narrow win over Vancouver Canucks, the thread hasn't snapped yet.
The Jets edged the Canucks 2-1 on Sunday night, hanging on for their playoff lives in front of a jubilant hometown crowd.
With six games left to play, the Jets (34-35-7) will need to win out to have any hope of a postseason. Vancouver, meanwhile, was formally eliminated from contention on Thursday; the Canucks (30-36-9) sit 27th in the league.
The game-winner came with under eight minutes left in regulation. With Canucks center Michael Chaput in the box for high-sticking, Jets winger Adam Lowry took a slick pass from center Mathieu Perreault and buried it past Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller for the 2-1 lead.
Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler also picked up an assist on the goal. In fact, Wheeler and Perreault figured into both Jets markers, as the home team went 2-for-2 on the power play.
Vancouver opened scoring for the fourth game in a row. There were only 21 seconds left in the first period when Canucks defenseman Alex Edler's wrister beat Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson. Blueliner Chris Tanev and center Bo Horvat picked up assists on the goal.
The Jets replied late in the second, after rookie Vancouver center Joseph Labate took a minor for tripping -- the first penalty of the game. Halfway through the ensuing power play, Perreault sniped a shot past Miller, tying things up.
It was the seventh goal in 17 games for Perreault, and extended his point streak to six games. Wheeler and center Mark Scheifele were credited with helpers.
Vancouver nearly wrested the lead back on their own power play minutes later, after Jets defenseman Julian Melchiori went to the box for interference. But Tanev dinged a puck off the crossbar, and Hutchinson stopped a dangerous shot by Canucks right winger Brock Boeser -- who had signed his first NHL contract, and scored his first NHL goal, only the day before.
Hutchinson would finish with 28 saves on 29 shots; Miller turned away 30 of 32 shots directed his way.
NOTES: Sibling rivalry on the opening face-off, as Jets coach Paul Maurice put LW Brandon Tanev out at puck drop while his older brother, D Chris Tanev, started the game for the Canucks. ... Jets sniper RW Patrik Laine (illness) did not play on Sunday. With 34 goals and 61 points on the season, Laine stands tied with Toronto C Auston Matthews for the NHL's rookie scoring lead. ... Injuries continue to plague the Jets defense corps, with Dustin Byfuglien, Toby Enstrom, Paul Postma and Ben Chiarot all out. ... Rookie D Josh Morrissey is the only Jet defenseman to have played all 76 games. ... Vancouver LW Loui Eriksson missed his ninth straight game with a leg injury. ... Injuries also kept Canucks C Brendan Gaunce, C Jayson Megna and C Joseph Cramarossa out of Sunday's game.