WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets only got stronger as the game wore on as they ended the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks four game win streak.
Michael Hutchinson allowed a weak goal in the first period, but it was the only puck to get by him as he stopped 45 of 46 shots in the victory. Hutchinson has won four of his five career starts against the Hawks.
“Clearly he’s played very well against them.” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. “He’s played other teams equally as well. I don’t see anything different in Michael from practice to practice to game to game. What he’s done so well is build a routine for himself that he follows daily. His work ethic never changes.”
“I think our whole team is in their heads.” Hutchinson said. “I don’t think they like playing us. You know we play pretty physical when we’re against them. It’s tough to play against us for 60 minutes.”
Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd and Mark Scheifele scored the Jets goals while Bryan Little had two assists in the win.
“I think we had a bit of a slow start.” Little said. “We came out a bit flat and they had a good first period. It was pretty back and forth. I mean it’s what you expect playing these guys. They’re really good offensively and they’ve got some dangerous guys out there. They controlled the play at some points during the game but I thought we had a really good third period and handled it really well.”
“Divisional games are so important right.” Ladd said. “I mean you look at our division and it’s pretty easy to see you can’t afford to lose too many games inside your own division.”
The Jets took an early penalty and just 86 seconds into the contest Patrick Kane took the pass at the face off dot and squeezed a shot through the 5-hole on Hutchinson for a powerplay goal.
The Jets looked completely outclassed early but midway through the first, Little won the draw clean and Blake Wheeler from the top of the circle zipped a shot behind Corey Crawford for his fifth goal of the season. It was tied after one period with the shots 14-9 for Chicago.
Early in the second period Jonathan Toews was sent off for holding and the Jets capitalized with the man advantage. Little’s one timer was stopped by Crawford but Ladd deposited the rebound into the wide open net. Mathieu Perreault had the other assist on Ladd’s third goal of the season. The Jets had a 2-1 lead despite allowing 32 shots in the first 40 minutes.
Nearing the eight minute mark of the third Nikolaj Ehlers raced down the wing to track down a loose puck. He dropped it back for Mark Scheifele, and he ripped a shot short side on Crawford for his fourth goal of the season. Tyler Myers had the second assist as the Jets went ahead by two and held on for a 3-1 victory. Chicago has scored just one goal in regulation time over their last three games.
“You can understand the other team is a good hockey team too” Maurice said. “And they’re going to make plays and they’re gonna do some things. I just thought what we were good at after two is we looked like we’re supposed to. And it’s not always going to be pretty.”
Mark Stuart had a game high nine hits. Pearreault played in his 300th career NHL game. The Jets now head out on a four game road trip starting Saturday in Columbus. The Jets will play eight of their next nine games on the road.
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