WINNIPEG – Kyle Connor scored in his first pre-season game of his professional career to help lead the Winnipeg Jets past the Minnesota Wild 4-1 at MTS Centre on Thursday.
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The Jets first round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft roofed the puck over Minnesota goalie Darcy Kuemper with five minutes before the second intermission to break a 1-1 tie. Connor was set up by a no-look, backhand pass by Mark Stuart.
“It was a lot of fun out there,” said Connor. “A lot of excitement out there. It was a great play by Stuart. I was a little surprised when it came to my tape.”
The two teams traded power play goals earlier in the period. Minnesota defenceman Matt Dumba opened the scoring less than a minute in by squeaking a point shot past Connor Hellebuyck. Mathieu Perreault later replied by tapping in a loose puck which was sitting in the Wild’s crease.
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Winnipeg added two additional goals in the third period from Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Copp. The Jets would have add one more but the referees did not see Drew Stafford’s short handed goal mid-frame as the puck quickly bounced out of the net. There are no video reviews in the pre-season.
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Perreault was not able to finish the game after he was hut in the final period. The forward was hit along the boards causing him to crumple to the ice. Perreault needed help getting to Winnipeg’s dressing room. Jets assistant coach Jamie Kompon did not have an update on Perreault’s status following the game.
Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves in the victory including 11 in the first period alone.
“I felt like I got in it right away,” said Hellebuyck. “I was shocked I didn’t feel any rust.
“I think everything I’ve been doing up to this point has paid off and really worked.”
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Perreault, Chase De Leo and Josh Morrissey all finished the game with two points.
“A lot of guys are battling for spots on the team,” said Ehlers. “There’s a lot of guys here.”
“Whenever we play, we want to go out there and have fun, play our best and get these wins.”
Morrissey along with fellow defenceman Brian Strait as well as forwards Andrew Copp and Brandon Tanev all played in their second exhibition game of the year.
The Jets close out their pre-season opening three game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. Winnipeg is expected to make its first round of cuts the following day. The team currently has 59 players at training camp.
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