In Winnipeg, the Jets managed to get their first win without former coach Paul Maurice Maurice on Sunday afternoon.
The Jets doubled up the visiting St Louis Blues, 4-2.
Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and four points in the win.
Adam Lowry got his first win behind the Jets bench.
“It feels great,” Lowry said after his first NHL coaching win.” I thought our guys played an outstanding game. We competed and did everything we wanted to do.”
Paul Stastny hit for a pair of goals for the Jets.
“We read off each other really well and we did that from Game 1 we played together,” Ehlers said of his new linemates following their second game together. “[Stastny] is the smartest player I’ve ever played with … And with [Scheifele] up the middle, the speed that he has, he’s also a guy who makes incredible passes. I just think we’re using our strengths and it’s working really well right now and we’ve got to continue.”
Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves in the Winnipeg win.
Niko Mikkola scored a shorthanded marker for the Blues.
“A couple mistakes cost us, but the effort was great,” Blues head coach Craig Berube said “The competitiveness, it was a highly competitive game. Like I said, you’ve got to limit mistakes in the game and that’s part of the game.”
The Blues dropped to 17-9-5.
After Ehlers gave the Jets a 1-0 lead in the opening frame, Vladimir Tarasenko tied the game up for the Blues, 1-1.
Mark Scheifele also scored for Winnipeg.
“They were great,” Lowry said of the line of Ehlers, Stastny, and Mark Scheifele, who combined for all four Winnipeg goals and nine points. “But I think the big thing is when you have a big game, you need everybody going. But they took over the game. They played at both ends. They defended real well, and because of that they had a lot of opportunity in the offensive zone.”
Winnipeg improved to 14-11-5.
“It was a big game, it was a big win for us,” Stastny said. “It was something we needed, big time confidence-wise for the morale and everything. It’s nice that Dave got his first win as well.”
Jordan Binnington made 30 saves in
“[Binnington] is the heart and soul of our team and our best player by a mile,” the Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly said. “What he’s done for us and what he continues to do it amazing. Our goaltending has been outstanding all year, and a lot of different guys have been a part of that. It’s definitely been a staple of our hockey here.”
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