CHICAGO – Playing their fifth game in seven nights you could excuse the Winnipeg Jets for being tired especially playing the Chicago Blackhawks who have been resting for the week, chomping at the bit to get on the ice against the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have had the Hawks’ number in the United Center this year winning both times. The Jets finished off a perfect 3-0 in Chicago as they played a whale of a game, winning 4-2 and pulled within two points of the Blackhawks in the Central Division standings.
“We play on energy, and I can’t imagine [we] had any,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “We won a game in Dallas [Thursday] night, and it was the quietest bus I’ve ever heard. You’d have thought we lost Game 7. Just great leadership in the locker room. They found a way to get themselves up and ready to play.”
Michael Hutchinson was back in the pipes for the Jets and he stopped 31 out of 33 shots to get his third win over the Blackhawks this season. He improves to 13-4-2 overall.
“I don’t think it was easy in the net for him tonight, because by the time it got to him, there were lots of legs and there were people swinging at pucks,” Maurice said. “Nobody could get a handle on [anything]. Especially after the first one early [by Saad], he and the team just fought through it.”
Corey Crawford made 31 stops off 34 Jets shots and falls to 17-9-2 on the season.
The Jets got goals from Zach Bogosian his 3rd, Bryan Little his 17th, Chris Thorburn his 3rd was the game winner. Andrew Ladd scored his 17th of the season, an empty net goal.
“They seem to bring the best out of us,” Ladd said of the Blackhawks, his former team. “We know coming in here that it’s going to be a challenge and that if you give them time and space to make plays, they can pick you apart. Maybe that gives us some urgency to get moving and get on them. We definitely seem to be able to do that.”
Chicago got goals from Brandon Saad his 13th, Teuvo Teravainen got his 1st of the year.
“It’s a nice feeling, of course,” Teravainen said of his first NHL point. “First goal. I’ve been waiting. It’s, of course, good to get the first one. I’m happy with that, but I’m not happy that we lost and we just couldn’t win this tight game.”
The Blackhawks came out of the gate flying and banging the tired Jets who didn’t back down one bit and were also flying and dishing out the hits. Captain Ladd set the tone right before the opening faceoff as he was jostling for position with Ben Smith showing the Hawks they were ready.
Bryan Bickell was throwing his weight around early as he dished out a couple big hits early before Anthony Peluso had seen enough and they dropped the gloves for a easy decision for Peluso. A bit later Jim Slater and Brent Seabrook decided it was go time as well. It was an intense fast paced physical game that the Jets love to play even if they were tired and it was their 5th game in seven days.
Little, Ladd , Blake Wheeler , Dustin Byfuglien , Bogosian all had multi point games strong play from the team leaders.
There was a negative to this win as the jets may have lost Mathieu Perreault as he was crosschecked in the back of the arm from behind by Daniel Carcillo a vicious cheap shot that the league will take a look at. Perreault didn’t return for the 3rd period and he will be evaluated when they get home.
The Jets improve to 24-14-8 overall and will welcome the Arizona Coyotes to town on Sunday night.
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