The Winnipeg Jets matched the six goals they scored in last years season opener to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Thursday night. The Jets received offence from all four forward lines in opening the season with a victory for the third year in a row.
Alex Burmistrov and Drew Stafford had two point nights with a goal and an assist each. Mark Stuart and Jacob Trouba were each a plus-3. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 29 of 31 shots and made several key saves in the win as the Jets outshot the Bruins 32-31. The Jets didn’t have a powerplay the entire game. Dustin Byfuglien led the Jets with 21:38 minutes of ice time.
Pavelec was busy in the early going as Winnipeg got off to a slow start. The Jets killed off an early penalty, but the Bruins got on the scoreboard just past the five minute mark. Ben Chiarot turned the puck over behind the Jets net. David Pastrnak’s pass made its way through to David Krejci in front and he sent in the backhand for a one-nothing Bruins lead.
Late in the period Alex Burmistrov caught Patrice Bergeron in the head with his elbow and was assessed a two minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head. It’s the kind of head shot the league is trying to stop and it will probably be reviewed by the NHL’s Department of player safety.
The Jets gave up numerous odd man rushes in the opening period as the Bruins controlled most of the play, outshooting the Jets 14-6 in the first.
After a lacklustre first, the Jets started the 2nd period shorthanded and early on in the penalty kill, Bryan Little sent in Andrew Ladd on the breakaway but Ladd was denied by the blocker of Tuukka Rask.
Pavelec made numerous crucial stops early in the middle frame to keep the Jets within one.
Then at the 5:26 mark of the second, Dustin Byfuglien forced the turnover in the neutral zone. He carried into the zone and dropped it off for Mark Scheifele who pulled the trigger on a wicked wrist shot. The puck sailed into the top corner behind Rask for Scheifele’s first goal of the season. Byfuglien had the only assist to tie the game at 1-1.
Midway thru the second stanza, the Jets took their first lead. Ladd stripped Matt Irwin of the puck behind the Bruins goal and setup Blake Wheeler who buried the one-timer upstairs on Rask. Ladd had the only helper which gave the Jets a 2-1 lead.
With just 2:21 left in the period Chiarot sent a centring pass in front to Adam Lowry and he fed Drew Stafford who lifted it in for another Jets goal. Stafford’s first of the season was assisted by Chiarot and Lowry. Three straight goals by the Jets gave them a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes.
It was a much better 2nd period for Winnipeg as they outshot the Bruins 11-10.
Pavelec was outstanding in the first two periods but the Bruins found life early in the third. David Pastrnak carried in on the 2 on 1 and from the top of the circle beat Pavelec short side to bring the Bruins within a goal.
But Winnipeg quickly restored the two goal lead. Stafford made a nifty no look pass to send in Chris Thorburn all alone and he beat Rask through the 5-hole and it was 4-2 for the Jets. Burmistrov drew the other assist for his first NHL point since 2013.
Just five minutes later Nic Petan scored his first career NHL goal. It wasn’t a pretty one, but they all count as Andrew Copp’s centring pass went in off Petan’s skate. Stuart had the other assist and the Jets took a three goal lead.
The Bruins pulled their goalie with just under four minutes left to play, but Burmistrov from his own zone sent a backhand off the glass and down the ice into the empty net to seal a 6-2 triumph for the Jets.
Adam Lowry left the game briefly in the third period with what appeared to be a hand injury, but returned a short time later.
Petan and Nikolaj Ehlers both played their first career NHL game. Ehlers was a plus-one with five shots in 15:40 of ice time.
Anthony Peluso, Adam Pardy and Paul Postma were scratched for the Jets.
The Jets season opening road trip continues on Friday in New Jersey against the Devils with puck drop at 6 o’clock.
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