In Pittsburgh,Mark Scheifele scored 22 seconds apart in the middle frame on Friday to help the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-1 win over the Penguins.
David Rittich made 22 saves in the Jets win.
Winnipeg improved to 28-14-1.
“Give the players full marks for responding the way they did, good for them,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “That was probably about one of the best games we’ve played all year. It really was, in terms of how we want to play and how you can be successful moving forward. Certainly, no passengers tonight, everyone contributed.”
The Jets have won seven of their last eight matches.
“We had our chances, and we didn’t capitalize. Those [goals] are obviously big,” Scheifele said. “Then in the third period, we buckled down, we did the right thing. We got the puck deep. We made it really, really hard on them to gain the blue line, gain any sustained [offensive zone] pressure. If we play like that, we’re hard to beat.”
Blake Wheeler staked the Jets to an early 1-0 lad in the first period.
Pittsburgh dropped to 21-14-6.
“I don’t think it was [up to] the standard that’s been set here by our group,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I know we’re capable of a lot more, regardless of who’s in our lineup. It just wasn’t our best. … It’s a challenge. We’re missing some guys back there that play heavy minutes for us.
“It’s hard to replace those guys, without a doubt. But we have to find a way to simplify the game, play as a group of five out there and try to play as a more simplified version of ourselves to give ourselves a chance. I just didn’t think we did that tonight.”
The Pens tied the game, 1-1, in the first period on their only goal of the game, from Drew O’Connor.
“I think we just didn’t limit their chances tonight,” O’Connor said. “I think they had a lot of good looks. I don’t really know the exact answer of what we could do different. Will have to look at some film, I think. … It was nice to get one and tie it up there. I think we just have to try to lock it down and get some more after that.”
Scheifele scored his second of the game at 6:39 of the third period for the 4-1 final.
“You keep looking for solutions. That’s what it’s all about,” Bowness said. “Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t. … No matter what happens, we get ready for the next shift. We move on.”
Dustin Tokarski made 36 saves in the Pens loss.
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