TAMPA, Fla. – Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves and the Winnipeg Jets overcame Steven Stamkos’ 400th goal to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 Friday night.
The 29-year-old Stamkos is the ninth active player and 98th overall to reach the milestone.
Mathieu Perreault, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jack Roslovic and Kyle Connor scored for Winnipeg, which is on a 6-1-1 roll. The Jets are 9-1-1 this season in one-goal games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 23 saves. Victor Hedman got his fourth of the season for Tampa Bay, which ended a season-best three-game winning streak. Anthony Cirelli also scored.
Perreault opened the scoring 1:59 into the game, tipping a long-range shot from the left point by Josh Morrissey. Tampa Bay answered with 48.6 seconds left when Hedman pounced on a loose puck in the crease.
The Jets struck twice in the span of 21 seconds in the second period, thanks to some help from Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
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After Roslovic put Winnipeg in front 2-1 with his fourth of the season at the 7:18 mark, Cooper issued a challenge believing the puck was knocked down by Ehlers with a high stick 18 seconds before the goal that would have resulted in a stoppage of play. The play was reviewed and the goal stood, which resulted in a delay of game penalty on Tampa Bay.
On the ensuing power play, Ehlers found space at the bottom of the right circle and snapped a wrist shot to the short side over Vasilevskiy’s glove at 7:39. Tampa Bay had successfully killed off 17 consecutive power plays prior to the goal.
Stamkos pulled the Lightning within a goal on a one-timer with 2:16 left in the third period before Connor added an empty-net goal with 1:28 left. Cirelli scored with 21.9 seconds remaining.
NOTES: Winnipeg C Bryan Little missed his fifth consecutive game since being struck by a puck near his ear during a game on Nov. 6, his seventh game back since missing the start of the season with a concussion. … Tampa Bay has allowed the opening goal 11 times in 17 games. … Lightning D Braydon Coburn was a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game. … Steven Stamkos has points five consecutive games. … Ehlers has seven goals in nine career games against Tampa Bay.
UP NEXT
Lightning: At St. Louis on Tuesday night.
Jets: At Nashville on Tuesday night.
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