Copp's late goal lifts Jets over Blackhawks
CHICAGO -- Left winger Andrew Copp scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period, and the Winnipeg Jets held on for a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.
Center Bryan Little also scored for the Jets. Winnipeg (13-13-2) earned its second road win in as many nights.
Left winger Artemi Panarin scored Chicago's lone goal as its offense continued to struggle without injured center Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks had a power play for the last 2:49 of the third period but failed to capitalize.
Chicago (16-8-3) lost in regulation on home ice for only the second time this season. The Blackhawks had earned at least one point in 12 consecutive home games before Sunday's loss.
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves, including several key stops in the final minute.
Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling drew the loss despite turning aside 30 shots.
Copp put Winnipeg on top 2-1 with 4:45 remaining in the third period. He skated to the right circle and unleashed a quick wrist shot that beat Darling stick-side.
A terrific sequence by Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien led to the game's first goal after more than 39 minutes of scoreless action. On the power play, Byfuglien kept the puck in the offensive zone and snapped a pinpoint pass to Little near the left side of the crease. Little chipped the puck into the net with 43.4 seconds remaining in the second period to notch his third goal in the past three games.
The Blackhawks evened the score at 1 on an even-strength goal by Panarin with 6:54 to go in the third period. Right winger Patrick Kane slid a pass across the front of the crease to Panarin, who beat Hellebuyck with a rising shot for his 10th goal of the season.
Winnipeg could have built a larger lead against Chicago if not for Darling's sharp performance. Darling turned aside breakaway shots by left winger Nikolaj Ehlers and center Adam Lowry during the second period, and he stuffed Byfuglien on a breakaway in the third period.
NOTES: The Blackhawks recalled G Lars Johansson from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs before Sunday's game. Johansson, 29, posted a 6-7-1 record with a 2.63 goals-against average in 16 games with Rockford. He spent three seasons in the Swedish Hockey League before signing a 1-year deal with the Blackhawks during the offseason. ... Jets C Mark Scheifele missed his second consecutive game because of a lower-body injury. ... To clear a roster spot for Johansson, the Blackhawks assigned C Nick Schmaltz to Rockford of the AHL. The 20-year-old rookie tallied four points (1 G, 3 A) in 26 games with Chicago. ... Jets LW Nikolaj Ehlers appeared in his 100th career game. ... Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews missed his sixth game in a row because of an upper-body injury. Toews will stay off the ice for at least a few more days, coach Joel Quenneville said.