WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets have racked up back-to-back victories for the first time in three weeks by squeaking past the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 at MTS Centre on Saturday night.
Chris Thorburn scored the game-winner mid-way through the third period after knocking Winnipegger Michael Stone off the puck near the Coyotes’ net while shorthanded. Thorburn showed plenty of patience before finally backhanding his third goal of the season past Arizona goalie Anders Lindback.
“The adrenaline was rushing,” said Thorburn. “I’m proud of our team on how we battled. There were times where things weren’t pretty but we stayed with it and came out with two points.”
The Coyotes came into the game ranked 29th in the NHL when it comes to power plays but didn’t look that way against the Jets. Arizona torched Winnipeg with two power play goals in the opening period to lead 2-1 through twenty minutes. Shane Doan tied things up just a handful of minutes following a Mark Scheifele goal. Doan tipped in a Mikkel Boedker shot while sitting on the Jets’ doorstep with Tyler Myers in the penalty box for closing his hand on the puck. The goal comes 20 years and a week after Doan scored his first NHL goal in Winnipeg. He also joins Jaromir Jagr as the only players in league history to score at both MTS Centre and the Winnipeg Arena. Connor Murphy put the Coyotes in front late in the first with a power play goal of his own. Stone assisted on the play for his sixth point of the season.
Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien made it a brand new game in the second period by burying a slapshot from the slot for his sixth goal of the year.
The win though didn’t come without a price as Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec suffered a lower body injury and was reportedly seen walking out of the rink on crutches. Pavelec got hurt in the second period when he was bulldozed by Doan as he drove the net. Pavelec stayed down for a few minutes as he was looked at by a trainer before getting up and finishing the frame. He did not return though for the third period. Jets head coach Paul Maurice said following the game the severity of Pavelec’s injury will be revealed following Sunday’s practice.
“He said he felt ok, he felt strong,” said Maurice. “As the period wore on, he didn’t feel strong enough after. When he went back in the net, he was 100% certain in his mind that he would be able to finish. By the time the period ended, he didn’t have the same confidence.”
The Jets close their three-game homestand Monday when they host the Colorado Avalanche.
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