In Winnipeg, the Jets welcomed back Kyle Connor on Tuesday night. 
Connor missed 16 games with a knee injury, and scored in his return to the bench in a 4-2 win for the Jets over the fading New York Islanders.
“He was impressive. He was a threat with the puck every time,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “You give him the puck and something good is going to happen. Give him credit, because most guys take two or three games to get their timing and their reads and everything. He just stepped in there tonight like he hadn’t missed 16 games. That’s very, very impressive.”
His goal came at 18:38 of the third period, into an empty net for the 5-2 final count on the scoreboard.
Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves in the win.
The Jets improved to 29-10-4.
Winnipeg took a 1-0 lead when Gabriel Vilardi scored midway through the opening stanza.
The Islanders’ Anders Lee, who scored both goals for New York, tied the game, 1-1, at 15:53 of the first.
“We had chances throughout the game I thought,” Lee said. “Guys were working, guys responded. Obviously, it wasn’t enough to get the job done tonight, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
The Isles dropped to 19-15-10.
“I thought we played a pretty solid game,” New York coach Lane Lambert said. “It’s a good hockey team, we know that. I thought we had plenty of chances, plenty of chances to tie the game in the third period, clearly, and potentially win the game. And an unfortunate broken skate blade cost us a goal against. So, I thought it was better.”
Neal Pionk reclaimed the lead for Winnipeg with a power play strike at 15:19 of the middle frame.
Mason Appleton hit for what would be the game-winner at 17:58 of the second.
“When you go on such a long win streak and then you drop one game, you want to get right back to your winning ways,” Appleton said. “That’s obviously a really good hockey team, a really disciplined team. They won’t give you much, but we found a way to win tonight and we’re back on the right track. We think that good teams don’t lose two games in a row, especially at home, so that was a big win for our club.”
Lee picked up his double with 35 seconds of flesh ice used in the third period to trim the deficit back down to one, 3-2.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a goalie without a skate blade get scored on, so some unlucky bounces,” the Islanders’ Scott Mayfield said. “I thought it was a better response, but we’ve got to dig deep to find a way.”
Ilya Sorokin made 40 saves in the loss.
“I was just able to get a couple to go tonight,” Lee said. “It’s a great building to play in, a great building to visit and come in and play with fans that are engaged (and) care a lot about their team. You feel that as an opponent. Our line had a good game tonight. I just happened to be on the right end of a couple shots.”
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