Jets ride Hellebuyck to 4-1 win over rival Wild

3 hours ago

Winnipeg Sun

Get the latest from Paul Friesen straight to your inbox

Published Nov 25, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read

Winnipeg Jets - Figure 1 — Photo Winnipeg Sun

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck makes a save against the Minnesota Wild in the first period at Xcel Energy Center on Nov. 25, 2024 in St Paul, Minn. Photo by David Berding /Getty Images

The Winnipeg Jets rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and some A.I. to another win over the rival Minnesota Wild.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Winnipeg Jets - Figure 2 — Photo Winnipeg Sun

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors

Article content

Connor Hellebuyck stoned the Wild through two periods and fourth-line forward Alex Iafallo scored twice as the Jets beat the Wild, 4-1, in the Twin Cities on Monday.

“My toe was hot, my glove was hot,” Hellebuyck told reporters, post-game. “I felt good.”

It was the Jets’ seventh straight win over Minnesota, in a game that featured the NHL’s two hottest teams through the first quarter of the season.

“As much as we’re having success, we’re been kind of following Minny, we know what they’ve been up to,” head coach Scott Arniel said. “They’ve been playing some great hockey as well and they’re not going away. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.

“A hard, hard building to play in. But I really liked the way, as the game kept going on, we kept getting stronger and stronger, building ourselves into a real solid win at the end.”

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

For the second time in two meetings this season, the Wild could beat Hellebuyck only once, as the Jets avoided a second straight loss and reached the mid-point of their six-game road trip with a 2-1 mark.

Out-skated, out-worked and out-shot through 40 minutes, the Jets weren’t just in the game, but leading it, thanks to Hellebuyck.

The Jets nursed a 2-1 lead through most of the third period, when Iafallo’s second of the night and 100th of his career on a power play gave them some breathing room.

Winnipeg Jets - Figure 3 — Photo Winnipeg Sun

“I barely touched it,” Iafallo said of his deflection, crediting defenceman Neal Pionk with a well-aimed point shot.

Nino Niederreiter had the other Jets goal, while Adam Lowry added an empty-netter.

Hellebuyck stopped 43 of 44 shots.

Article content

The win improves the Jets to a league-leading 18-4.

Minnesota falls to 13-4-4.

The Jets play the fourth game of their road trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The Wild were full marks for the first goal, defenceman Jake Middleton out-muscling Mark Scheifele to deposit a rebound past Hellebuyck not quite midway through the first period.

The Jets answered right back with a goal by their fourth line some 90 seconds later.

Rasmus Kupari’s first assist in 47 games was well-earned: His aggressive forecheck allowed him to get the puck to Iafallo, whose backhand beat Filip Gustavsson.

But the ice remained tilted in Minnesota’s favour for most of the opening 20 minutes, much of the play clustered around Hellebuyck, who had to be sharp.

Article content

Shots through the first were a whopping 22-7 in favour of the Wild.

“I think the shot guy fell asleep on the button,” Arniel joked, suggesting the ice wasn’t as tilted as the shot clock showed. “We went and looked at our scoring chances and it certainly didn’t reflect what all of the shots that were coming. But they are a team that likes to throw pucks there, with bodies around. We did do a really good job of finding a lot of the rebounds and clearing them out.”

Things didn’t change much in the second, but Hellebuyck kept things even as the Minnesota shot count reached the mid-30s.

It was the Jets who broke the tie, though.

As Iafallo occupied two Wild players in his end, his teammates broke the other way, Niederreiter set up by Pionk for his ninth goal of the year.

Article content

It was Niederreiter’s fourth goal in four games against Gustavsson.

“I’m not sure what he was up to,” Arniel said of Iafallo. “But he got everybody stirred up and mad at him on Nino’s goal. He had two guys sort of chasing him around the ice, and we took advantage of it. But that’s one thing about Al, he’s such an all-purpose player.”

Iafallo says he was just defending his goalie, who’d been bumped on the play.

“So I just went in there trying to clean it up,” he said. “And I just looked down the ice, and the boys were scoring. So it was nice to just relax a bit after that.”

Shots were 39-20 after the second, but Winnipeg took their 2-1 lead into the third.

They rewarded their goalie with a much tighter final 20 minutes, out-shooting Minnesota, 12-5.

“We righted our wrong in that third period,” is how Hellebuyck put it. “We were just phenomenal.”

[email protected] X: @friesensunmedia

Recommended from Editorial

Jets' Ville Heinola finally makes it back

Jets fall to Predators and lose Samberg to injury

Article content