WINNIPEG — Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves, including 21 in the second period, to help the Winnipeg Jets defeat the New York Rangers 4-1 at Canada Life Center on Friday.
“This team played the right way,” Hellebuyck said. “That was a great team win tonight, and we needed everyone and we got everyone. It’s a great building step, and I think the character in this locker room is just going to continue to show and grow.”
Mark Scheifele had two goals, Sam Gagner and Kyle Connor also scored, and Nikolaj Ehlers had two assists for Winnipeg, which was playing in its season opener.
“[Hellebuyck] made a lot of big saves,” Scheifele said. “We had guys bailing each other out, I think that’s the biggest thing. When a guy made a mistake, we had guys backing them up. Obviously, we’ll have to fix that for the next one, but all in all, big win, and I’m happy with that one.”
Video: NYR@WPG: Gagner cleans up in front for go-ahead goal
Associate coach Scott Arniel coached the Jets after Rick Bowness tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day. Bowness was hired to coach Winnipeg on July 3.
Dryden Hunt scored, and Jaroslav Halak made 30 saves in his debut for New York (2-1-0), which was coming off a 7-3 win at the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
“We weren’t great in the first,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “I thought we played a real good second, and then in the third, I think we ran out of gas so we made a lot of mistakes in the defensive zone, which usually happens from mental mistakes and tired mistakes.”
Scheifele gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 10:29 of the first period, scoring off a pass by Ehlers from below the goal line.
“[Ehlers] was flying all night, made some great plays, and I don’t think [Connor] gets the credit he deserves,” Scheifele said. “He drove [to] the net, opened everything up. Sometimes it’s not always your turn to get the chance. That’s what I think our line, we’re going to be dangerous if we do that.”
Video: NYR@WPG: Scheifele snipes puck by Halak in 1st
Hunt tied it 1-1 at 3:55 of the third period, stopping Vincent Trocheck‘s cross-crease pass with his skate before scoring high glove side.
“When you get an opportunity like that, especially with coming into the lineup, you kind of want to make the most of it,” said Hunt, who was playing in his second game of the season. “[Hellebuyck] was pretty good all night, so for that one to go in was huge. It just would have been nice to kind of keep it rolling, I guess.”
Gagner, who signed a one-year contract on Sept. 2, put Winnipeg in front 2-1 at 15:35 when he knocked in his own rebound.
“It feels great,” Gagner said of the standing ovation he received after scoring. “The fan support here is incredible. I’ve only been here for a short time, but you can see the passion from the fanbase, and everyone’s been really welcoming, from my teammates to the fans. It’s been great so far, and hopefully keep it rolling.”
Scheifele pushed the lead to 3-1 with a power-play goal from the bottom of the left face-off circle at 18:23, and Connor scored into an empty net at 19:40 for the 4-1 final.
“Outside of that first and that third, I think we know what works for us,” the New York captain Jacob Trouba said. “We just got away from it a little bit tonight. We’re not going to play perfectly every game this year, so we’ll learn from it and address it going forward.”
NOTES: Rangers forward Ryan Carpenter sustained an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return. Gallant said he is day to day. … Rangers forward Artemi Panarin had an assist and has six points (one goal, five assists) in a three-game point streak. … Trouba played in his 600th NHL game. The defenseman played his first 408 games with the Jets before signing a seven-year contract with the Rangers on July 19, 2019.
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