Jets' home cooking burns Devils
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Winnipeg Jets continued to reap the benefits of home cooking, posting a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
It's the second consecutive win at the MTS Centre for the Jets -- they beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 on Sunday -- following a five-game losing streak on the road. It's also their fifth consecutive win on home ice.
Rookie Patrik Laine scored the winner midway through the third period and Connor Hellebuyck continued to have the hot hand in the Jets net, stopping 23 shots.
The win improved the Jets record to 11-12-2 for 24 points while the Devils fell to 10-7-5 for 25 points. The Jets outshot the Devils 29-25.
The Devils -- and Wood -- finally got on the scoreboard on an innocent-looking play early in the third period. After defenseman Adam Henrique dumped the puck in from center to Hellebuyck's right, Wood raced in and fired a slapshot virtually from the corner that squeezed between the goalie's pads at 2:52.
Laine reestablished the two-goal lead at 4:47 of the period when he ripped a snapshot from the top of the left circle high to Schneider's blocker side. It was his 13th of the season, tying him with center Mark Scheifele for the team lead and extending his goal-scoring lead among rookies.
The Devils pulled within one once again when right winger Nick Lappin converted a rebound at 7:58 of the third. It was his fourth goal of the year.
The Devils pulled Schneider with just under two minutes to go in the game but were unable to notch the tying goal.
The Jets opened the scoring midway through the second period on a mad scramble in front of Schneider after Jets right winger Nikolaj Ehlers unleashed a slap shot from the high slot. Dustin Byfuglien, who had jumped up into the play from his defensive position, tried stuffing it home with his back to Schneider.
The rebound came to Scheifele, who was lurking to the left of the crease and ripped home his 13th goal at 11:20 of the period.
Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler doubled the lead on a similar scramble two minutes later. Center Andrew Copp was stopped in close and the rebound bounced out to the same spot to the left of the crease where Wheeler was waiting to notch his eighth of the season at 13:21.
The Devils had a golden chance to cut the lead in half when left winger Miles Wood caught Byfuglien pinching on a Jets power play a couple of shifts later. Wood had a breakaway from his own blue line and only defenseman Josh Morrissey was able to get close.
The referee awarded Wood a penalty shot even though replays showed he lost an edge on his own as he closed in on Hellebuyck.
Justice was served, in the minds of the home fans, when Wood -- who has zero points in two games this season -- fanned on a backhand deke attempt.
NOTES: Devils LW Mike Cammalleri was the NHL's second star of the week with a league-high four goals and four assists. ... The Jets lead the NHL with 142 power-play shots but they have only scored one goal with the man advantage in their last six games. ... In the press box for the Devils were LW Taylor Hall, RW Beau Bennett, C Reid Boucher and D Yohann Auvitu. Joining them from the Jets were C Alex Burmistrov and D Julian Melchiori. ... Devils G Cory Schneider played three seasons for the Jets AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose (2007-2010).