In Winnipeg Saturday, the Jets got all the goals they needed, five of them, in the second period en route to a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
“We didn’t do anything different than that first period,” the Jets’ Jacob Trouba said. “We talked about it after the first period. It was a tight game and there wasn’t really much there, but I don’t think we changed anything. We just kind of trust the game we’ve been playing.”
The Jets goals came from Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Trouba, Matt Hendricks, and Mathieu Perreault.
The Devils had tied the game 1-1 on a goal from Brian Gibbons and rookie Will Butcher (his first NHL goal) scored in the third period to a little cosmetic tough up on the loss.
“You always dream about scoring your first goal in the National Hockey League,” Butcher said. “In my mind, I drew it up a little bit different than just pushing the puck just three inches across the line. At the end of the day, it’s still a special moment.”
Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves to pick up the win.
“He’s been the backbone of our group this year. We’ve talked from Day One that in this league you’ve got to have (great) goaltending. It helps your team when you’re making mistakes and not playing great hockey, and when you are playing great hockey, you feel you can beat anybody in the league,” Hendricks said of Hellebuyck after the win.
[WATCH: All Devils vs. Jets highlights]
Cory Schneider made 17 saves for the loss as the Devils dropped to 11-5-2; New Jersey has gone cold of late with a two-game skid and losers of six of eight (2-3-3).
Schneider did come make it out of the second intermission and was replaced by Keith Kinkaid;who made 12 saves.
“It’s never something you want to kind of snowball like that,” Schneider said. “For me, it’s about making a save or two to stop the momentum. To give up three or four goals on four or five shots in that short amount of time, it’s tough as a goalie. Tonight, I just wasn’t able to stop the bleeding.”
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