WINNIPEG – The reunification of the Winnipeg Jets’ top line was a smashing success. Playing together for the first time since the spring, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehlers combined for three Jets’ goals in their 4-2 exhibition victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday at the MTS Centre.
Wheeler, Scheifele, Ehlers and Kyle Connor scored goals for the Jets as they won their fourth straight pre-season game.
“It’s nice to get going.” said Wheeler. “I think with the World Cup this year, even though we only played three games and three exhibition games, a lot of travel. It feels like we’re already kinda in mid-season form a little bit here. For the games not to count you’re kinda itchy trigger finger a little bit.”
“I think we did do some good things today but we got a lot to work with.” said Ehlers.
Connor has appeared in three exhibition games so far and has scored one goal in each contest.
“I think anytime you get a chance to score it obviously helps your confidence and it’s always nice too.” Connor said.
Michael Hutchinson made 27 saves in his second exhibition start.
Ryan Dzingel and Tom Pyatt scored for the Senators in the loss.
The Jets have 42 players left in training camp and head coach Paul Maurice is hoping to get down to 28 to 30 healthy bodies for their final two exhibition games.
“I wouldn’t be assessing the team game. I think that starts in our next game when it gets closer to our lineup. It’s still about individuals trying to show what they do.” said Maurice. “I think we’ve probably made our assessment on what they are as players and we’ll start talking more about how the pieces fit.”
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Neither team had much success offensively in the first period. Connor had a couple quality scoring chances in the early going but failed to beat Senators goalie Andrew Hammond. It was all zeros on the scoreboard after one period as Ottawa outshot Winnipeg 15-12.
After a scoreless opening stanza, the Senators found the net less than four minutes into the second period. Hutchinson made the initial save but the puck came right to Dzingel and he tucked it in on the wraparound. His first goal of the pre-season was assisted by Mark Borowiecki and Ottawa was in the lead.
Midway through the middle period the Jets evened the score on the powerplay. Ehlers made a perfect pass to Scheifele at the side of the net and he slammed in the one-timer. Scheifele’s second exhibition goal tied the game at one. Dustin Byfuglien picked up the other assist.
The Jets found themselves two men down late in the period and the Sens capitalized on the 5-on-3 powerplay. Phil Varone fed it to Pyatt at the top of the crease and he re-directed it past Hutchinson. Michael Kostka also drew an assist as the Senators took the lead back.
But with just 5.2 seconds left in the period, Wheeler, from the top of the circle, blasted the shot past Hammond. Byfuglien and Mathieu Perreault had the helpers and it was tied after 40 minutes.
The Jets then took their first lead at the 7:02 mark of the third period. On a beautiful shot Connor picked the top corner for a powerplay goal. Perreault and Toby Enstrom grabbed the assists on Connor’s third goal of the pre-season.
Ehlers was awarded a goal in the final seconds when he was hauled down with the Sens goalie pulled to give the Jets a two goal victory.
Drew Stafford left the game in the first period with an upper body injury and did not return. He’s been listed as day-to-day.
“We’ll get some tests done tomorrow.” Maurice said. “We don’t think it’s overly significant.”
The Jets have two exhibition games remaining on the road. They’ll play on Thursday in Edmonton before wrapping up their pre-season schedule on Saturday in Minnesota.
WATCH: Winnipeg Jets Post Game Reaction
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