ST.PAUL Minn – The Winnipeg Jets were playing game two of the regular season and there was already talk of a huge game as they faced their division rivals, the Minnesota Wild, at the Excel Energy Center . The Jets built a two-goal lead before falling asleep during the second period and it cost them the game as they lost 4-3.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler gave the Jets a quick 2 -0 lead and it looked like the Jets would be running away with the win but the Wild must have had a good pep talk from Coach Bruce Boudreau during the first intermission because they came out in the second and took over the game.
Chris Stewart led the charge for the Wild as he picked up the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal , an assist and a scrap with Chris Thorburn. Stewart was the game’s first star. Eric Staal also had a big game for the Wild as he picked up his first goal as a member of the Wild.
Winnipeg only managed two shots on goal in the second period as the Wild had them smothered in their own end for pretty much the whole period.
Mark Scheifele scored the other marker for the Jets in the final minute of the game with the net empty but it was too little too late.
Michael Hutchinson made 27 saves off 31 Wild shots and took the loss in net.
Devan Dubnyk made 14 saves for the win in a less than busy night at the office for him.
Mark Stuart and Alex Burmistrov made their season debuts for the Jets.
The Jets were dealt with some bad news as they learned Bryan Little will be out for a while with a lower body injury he suffered in game one.
Winnipeg will return home and host the Bruins on Monday night.
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