New on Sports Illustrated: Jets snap 3-game losing streak, beat Oilers in shootout

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Connor Hellebuyck's first shutout of the season couldn't have come at a better time for the Winnipeg Jets.

Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine scored in the shootout and the Jets snapped a three-game losing skid with a 1-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night.

''I wasn't trying to do too much, sticking with my game and relaxing and reading the game as it came to me,'' Hellebuyck said of his 28-save performance.

''I thought I was a calming presence for the guys out there, and it helps when they were clearing rebounds like they were. I'll enjoy this one. You don't get too many shutouts.''

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid were stopped in the shootout.

The overtime period was highlighted by tight goaltending.

Edmonton goalie Mike Smith robbed Mark Scheifele in close and Hellebuyck followed that up by denying Connor McDavid on a breakaway.

''That's what 3-on-3 hockey does with the best players in the world out there,'' said Smith, who made 23 saves. ''It's exciting for you guys, not so much for the goalies.''

Winnipeg (5-5-0) was playing its fourth game of a five-game homestand.

''It's good to get a result,'' Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. ''Obviously, it's been tough around here. I think the quality of our play isn't reflective of the results we're getting recently. So, it's good to finally get one.''

The Jets are undefeated in regulation in their last seven games against the Oilers. Their last loss was Dec. 1, 2016.

The victory also marked Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice's 700th career win. He's seventh all-time and third behind active NHL coaches Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers (893) and New York Islanders' Barry Trotz (815).

Jets defenseman Carl Dahlstrom appeared to score his first NHL goal at 8:23 of the third period, but the play was reviewed, and Scheifele was ruled offside. The goal was wiped away.

Edmonton outshot Winnipeg 7-2 in the first period.

The Jets didn't get their first shot on goal until 8:06 and finished with another 11 attempts in the period, five that missed the net and six that were blocked.

The Oilers went on a power play with 1:56 left in the opening period and had one shot that Hellebuyck turned aside.

Winnipeg went on its first power play seven minutes in the second period and got four shots on Smith.

McDavid was then called for slashing Blake Wheeler late in the second. Winnipeg managed three shots on goal.

Shots on goal after the middle frame were 15-12 in Edmonton's favor.

Winnipeg had its third power play of the game 26 seconds into the third and Smith stopped Laine's low, one-timer blast and a shot from Dmitry Kulikov.

Less than a minute after Dahlstrom's goal was disallowed, the Jets went on the power play again. Smith denied three shot attempts, including two quick ones from close in.

NOTES: Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl had his point streak end at eight games. He had six goals and 10 assists in that span. ... Edmonton defenseman Kris Russell played his 800th NHL game.

UP NEXT

Oilers: At Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

Jets: Finish a five-game homestand against Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

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February 01, 2020 at 05:38AM
Jets snap 3-game losing streak, beat Oilers in shootout