The Winnipeg Jets need big efforts from across the bench to get themselves into a solid division and conference playoff spot. Until they get the bench-wide effort, they will rely on Patrik Laine.
On Sunday, Laine had a goal and three points in a 4=1 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche.
Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves to pick up the win for the Jets.
Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers scored goals just 1:09 apart in the third period to turn a close game into an easier effort as the Jets held a 3-0 lead at that point.
Wheeler’s goal came off an odd man rush as took advantage of the puck skipping out of the defensive zone.
“I thought it looked pretty good,” Wheeler said. “Sometimes when it doesn’t feel like a whole lot is going on out there that’s when you’re playing your best. We didn’t give them a whole lot and finally broke them down in the third period.”
Jarome Iginla was the lone goal scorer for the Avs as they fell to
“Offensively, it looked like we didn’t have our legs,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “We’ve been struggling to score all year but then tonight we weren’t generating anything either.”
WATCH:All Jets vs. Avalanche highlights
Calvin Pickard made 27 saves for the Avs in taking the loss and has been snake-bit in the last tree starts, losing all three.
Iginla cut the deficit to 3-1 but there was little else for the Avs to give on the night.
“At that point, we’re just trying to give it a chance,” Iginla said. “With a couple minutes left, you never know. You don’t want to be down three. We were right there with them but the third period they went bang, bang and you got to give them credit, they deserved that game by the way they played in the third period.”
Laine leads all rookies this season in scoring with 29 points. on 18 goals.
Ehlers sealed it with his second of the night when he scored into an empty net.
“All you care about is how the team is doing and the personal [stats] come second. It’s not that I’ve been feeling that I haven’t played well. I’ve been feeling really good and playing with a lot of confidence,” Ehlers said of breaking out of a goal drought.
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