TAMPA Fla – The time was right for the Winnipeg Jets to start making noise as they have been inconsistent all season and have lost their last two games including a real stinker on New Years Eve against the Islanders.
The Jets headed out for some sun as they are getting away from the frigid cold weather back in Winnipeg and are spending the next few days in the sun in Florida.
Winnipeg was facing the Tampa Bay Lightning who were also looking to make some noise and get back in the playoff picture.
Tampa came out gunning as they outshot the visitors 17-6 in the opening frame but Connor Hellebuyck held down the fort stopping everything that was fired his way .
Mark Scheifele scored his 16th of the season on the power play to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.
Tamapa squared things at 1-1 as Matthew Peca scored his first NHL goal.
Winnipeg fired three straight as Nik Ehlers scored his 11th on a penalty shot then Jacob Trouba scored his second and Dustin Byfuglien got his fifth to put the Jets up 4-1 heading into the third.
Ehlers got his second of the game and 12th of the year and Patrik Laine scored his 20th into an empty net to give the Jets a 6-4 win.
Tampa made things interesting as they got it to one goal lead late as Ondrej Palat scored his seventh and Nikita Kucherov scored a pair on the power play his 14th and 15th but that was as close as things would get.
Laine and Ehlers finished with three point games and Laine also hit his bonus with his 20th goal to give himself an added pay cheque of 212,000.
Hellebuyck finished with 32 saves to get his 14th win of the season.
Winnipeg will play the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night.
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