LOS ANGELES – The bright lights of Los Angeles didn’t stop the Jets from coming into town and getting a much needed shootout win by a score of 5-4. The Jets had to dig deep and come from behind and battle to the end to get these points and they earned it.
After a slow start on Thursday against the Coyotes the Jets came out flying at Staples Centre and it was the Kings who came back before the Jets gutted out the win.
Michael Hutchinson got the start and although he gave up 4 goals on 29 shots he stood his ground when they needed him including stopping all four Kings shooters in the shoot out. He improves to 11-4-2 on the season.
“They had a couple lucky bounces in the third period to get goals, but we really showed that we’re just as resilient as they were tonight,” Hutchinson said. “From there, we played awesome in overtime. We had the puck on our stick most of the time, and in the shootout it was nice to see [Little] score that goal, and I just tried to do my job.”
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 21 of 25 shots. He was stunned early on when the Jets scored on their opening three shots before he settled things down. He falls to 16-10-8 on the season.
The Jets got goals from Mathieu Perreault his 12th, Bryan Little his 16th, Blake Wheeler his 12th, Zach Bogosian his 1st. Bryan Little scored the shoot out winner.
“It gets to a point where it’s in your head a bit that you haven’t scored yet in the shootout,” Little said. “But it’s been a while since we’ve had one. It’s definitely nice to get one, finally.”
Los Angeles got goals from Anze Kopitar his 9th, Justin Williams his 12th, Marian Gaborik his 13th, Kyle Clifford his 2nd.
“I thought we did a good job handling it,” Little said. “It could have turned into a negative and guys get mad at each other. They threw a lot at us in the second period, and we stuck with it the whole game.”
The Jets welcomed back Toby Enstrom, Mark Stuart , and Evander Kane all back into the lineup tonight and they all looked good as this was their first game back off the injured list.
“Really happy to have them back,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “Evander [was] physical and clean in the forecheck – just hard-driving. That line scores the game-tying goal, and he’s a big part of that. And then, I’ll say even four [returners], because that was [Bogosian’s] first real game back.”
Winnipeg got another monster game from Dustin Byfuglien as he played almost 30 minutes. He had two assists, was +2 and had four penalty minutes on the game . He also had 4 shots on goal. Big Buff was also throwing his huge frame around as he lowered the boom on Kopitar, and Gaborik in the same shift. He was named the game’s first star.
Discipline was still a factor for the Jets as they gave the Kings six power plays and they scored twice. Winnipeg is the league leader in penalties. Although they have a strong penalty kill they must learn to be more disciplined on the ice.
This was a physical affair as both teams play a big fast forechecking game in the trenches. Both teams finished the game with 37 hits apiece.
The Jets see their record improve to 21-14-7 good for sixth place in the very tight Western Conference playoff race.
“We can’t give up five goals and expect to win a hockey game,” Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez said. “That’s what it comes down to. You can’t have first period starts like we’ve had. In the second half, we started playing more of a team game. We started to match their physical play, but … you can’t give up that many goals and expect to win.”
They will head to Anaheim for a Sunday night game.
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