In Winnipeg, Blake Wheeler struck twice to help the Jets double up the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, 6-3.
“You’re watching that back-door goal [by Wheeler to make it 3-1] thinking ‘Man, I haven’t seen that in a while. That felt Jets head coach Paul good,'” Maurice said. “They certainly made a strong argument today. It’s something that you know you like, you’ve seen it work so well, but we’ve had our challenges with pieces of lines.”
Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves in the win.
Dustin Brown had two goals for the Kings.
“There are going to be ups and downs and distractions, but it is your job as a player to be ready to play regardless of the situation,” Brown said. “I think emotionally it can drain you, but you’ve got to be able to focus. If you want to be playing in the playoffs, this is a good time for guys to learn how to play, whether it’s distractions, or pressure, or playing against really good teams.
“We’re not going to make the playoffs so we’re going to be playing teams that are fighting for points. You can learn a lot from playing in these games if you’re prepared and willing to do the work.”
Martin Frk had a single marker for the Kings.
There may be loud voices in LA asking for trades ahead of the deadline.
Jansen Harkins and Mason Appleton responded to Brown’s first goal for a 2-1 Jets lead.
Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal for the Jets.
“I think it’s been a great homestand,” Ehlers said of the homestand success. “Obviously you want to be 6-0, but we feel really good about the way we’ve been able to play.”
Patrik Laine added an empty goal for a 5-3 score.
Wheeler closed out the scoring for the 6-3 final.
“I’m disappointed in the sixth goal,” Kings head coach Todd McLellan said. “I thought we folded our tent and our cards at that point, and those are moments we’ll really address moving forward. The loss is one thing, but the last two minutes really [ticks] me off.”
[WATCH: All Kings vs. Jets highlights]
Calvin Petersen made 29 saves in the loss.
“There’s no quit in them,” McLellan said. “They keep fighting back, clawing back. … There are champions in that room and they’ve got championship pedigree and they won’t let it happen. But when you shoot yourself in the foot and you’re not gifted enough to score on a regular basis, you don’t give yourself a chance. And to me that was the type of game we had tonight.”
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