WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets had just been through the roughest part of their schedule and were riding a four-game win streak and were looking to head into the All Star Break on a high note. They got a strong team effort in shutting out the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-0. The Jackets, who have been battling injuries all season, came into Winnipeg a day early and have been playing some good hockey lately as they were on two-game winning streak before tonight’s game.
Michael Hutchinson got the start for the Jets and played a very strong game getting his 2nd shutout of the season stopping 29 shots. He improves to 14-4-2 on the season. He was named the game’s first star.
“How can you just not be enamored by the way he has played,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said
Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky started for the Blue Jackets allowed two goals on the first two shots of the game and was forced to leave in the second period as he stretched out to make a save and had to be helped off the ice. He allowed three goals on 12 shots before leaving. His status for this weekend’s All Star Game is now up in the air.
“[Bobrovsky] is the backbone of this team,” Columbus’ Ryan Johansen said. “Hopefully he can get back on the ice as soon as possible. It sinks all of the energy out of the bench. The most important player on the team, and he goes down with an injury.”
Curtis McElhinney came in and stopped 17 of 18 shots
Winnipeg got goals from Blake Wheeler his 13th , Evander Kane got his 10th , Jim Slater his 2nd, Chris Thorburn his 4th of the season.
“That is kind of the normal way the season has been going,” Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. “Close to getting a couple of guys back, and two guys leave the game.”
The Jets started out being hemmed in by the Blue Jackets who were all over them early before the Jets popped in a 2-0 lead and then took over the game Both teams had very good transitional play tonight as they are both similar in style , big ,fast skating physical teams. Special teams were a non factor as both teams had power play chances and couldn’t convert.
“I was really happy with the way we came out,” Wheeler said. “We’ve been ready to play all [season].”
The Jets welcomed back Jacob Trouba to the blue line as he has been out with an injury since early December, he looked a bit rusty but did manage to play twenty minutes and get an assist.
Maurice was able to roll out all four lines throughout the whole game which is something he can’t always do.
“It was the performance that we were looking for,” Hutchinson said. “We came out with the start we were looking for.”
“It’s always nice when your team gets a lead, especially to get a two-goal lead pretty early in the game. It lets you loosen up. I think the whole team kind of loosens up and knows that we’re in for a good night. You can just kind of focus on doing your job and playing within the system, and we [can] be pretty successful.”
Dustin Byfuglien who is heading to Columbus to play in this weekends All Star Game didn’t make things easy on Blue Jackets forward and All Star Captain Nick Foligno as he was the recipient of a couple Big Buff hits during the game.
“They were faster than us,” Columbus left wing Scott Hartnell said. “They were more physical than us.”
The Jets will now have a four-day break before getting back together for the stretch run they are sitting at 26-14-8 with 60 points on the season and find themselves in fifthplace in the West.
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