WINNIPEG – Mark Scheifele scored the deciding goal in the shootout to give the Winnipeg Jets (8-7-2) a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings (7-8-1) at MTS Centre on Sunday.
Patrik Laine also scored in the shootout for Winnipeg. L.A.’s Dwight King was successful in his attempt.
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The Kings tied the game with less than eight minutes to play thanks to Tom Gilbert’s first of the season. L.A.’s other goal came in the first period when Tanner Pearson beat Connor Hellebuyck with a wrist shot from the top of the slot.
The Jets scored twice during a five-minute power play late in the opening frame. Adam Lowry buried a Nic Petan rebound shortly before Marko Dano re-directed in a Toby Enstrom pass for the go-ahead goal. Winnipeg was handed the man advantage after Kings forward Kyle Clifford slammed Kyle Connor head first into the boards. The Jets rookie was slow to get up but was able to skate to the dressing room on his own. Connor returned to Winnipeg’s bench at the beginning of the second period.
Manitoban Quinton Howden logged two shots in 10:23 of ice time in his Jets debut. The Oakbank product replaced injured forward Alexander Burmistrov just a day after he was called-up from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Defenceman Tyler Myers was also hurt and did not dress against the Kings.
Sunday’s game marked Jacob Trouba’s first at MTS Centre since Winnipeg signed him to a new contract. The defenceman agreed to a two-year, $6-million deal last Monday, roughly six weeks after it was revealed he had asked to be traded. Fans neither cheered nor jeered Trouba in his return.
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Hellebuyck made 29 saves in his fifth start in the last six games. Kings goalie Peter Budaj also turned away 29 shots.
The victory extends the Jets’ point streak to four straight games. It’s also the team’s first win on a Sunday this season.
Winnipeg wraps up its two-game homestand Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
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