In Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves to help the Jets defeat the visiting Nashville Predators, 5-0.
Kyle Connor picked up his first career NHL hat trick in the win.
Kyle Connor had a hat trick for Jets – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“He’s a guy that we rely on for offense and scored a huge goal for us to get us going,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “We hadn’t scored a goal for about a game and a half (lost 5-0 to Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday), so he made an incredible play there to get us on the board. Hard work pays off. He’s been on the puck all year.”
The Jets improved to 45-26-4.
“I think just playing the right way, and when you have that type of skill and to be able to play with those guys, you’re going to create time and space for each other and we have those skills to make those plays,” Connor said of his line with Hayes and Patrik Laine. “If we connect on them, it’s pretty lethal.”
Hayes had a goal and three assists and Laine had a helper for the Jets.
“It’s disappointing,” Predators captain Roman Josi said. “Biggest game of the year up to this point and they’re just better than us. It’s disappointing.”
Andrew Copp also scored for the Jets.
[WATCH:Â All Predators vs. Jets highlights]
Pekka Rinne made 38 saves in the loss.
“They were just better than us the whole game,” Josi said. “It’s real disappointing that we played like that for such a big game. It was a big game for both teams and we just didn’t play well enough.”
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