Oct 13, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) deflects a Minnesota Wild shot throughout the third interval at Canada Life Centre. Necessary Credit score: Terrence Lee-Imagn Photographs The unbeaten Winnipeg Jets look to proceed their torrid begin after they host the inconsistent Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon.
Because of sturdy offense and Connor Hellebuyck’s spectacular goaltending in every recreation, the Jets have opened with 4 straight wins, together with two in extra time. In the meantime, it has been an inconsistent opening of the season for the Penguins.
After relying closely on Hellebuyck in a pair of 2-1 extra time wins, the Jets gave him a relative breather on Friday night time. In his five hundredth NHL begin, Hellebucyk made 19 saves whereas the Jets rolled to an 8-3 residence win over the winless San Jose Sharks.
Cole Perfetti (two targets, two assists), Neal Pionk (one aim, three assists) and Vladislav Namestnikov (one aim, three assists) every posted their first four-point output within the NHL. Nikolaj Ehlers added two targets and an help because the Jets lengthen their regular-season win streak to 12 video games going again to the 2023-24 common season.
“Everytime you rating, it provides you a lift of confidence,” Namestnikov mentioned. “However on this league, you possibly can’t get too excessive and you’ll’t get too low. We form of benefit from the night time tonight, however then transfer on to (the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday).”
The Jets transformed 4-of-7 power-play alternatives and are 7-for-14 on the season.
Hellebuyck in the meantime loved a much less traumatic night time. After 4 video games he has one shutout, a 1.25 goals-against-average and a .952 save proportion.
“We have been due to assist (Hellebuyck) out and rating for him,” Perfetti mentioned. “He is bailed us out a number of occasions, so it was good to try this for him in tonight’s recreation.”
Pittsburgh enters Sunday off a 4-1 residence loss Friday to the Carolina Hurricanes. That loss got here after a pair of high-energy wins wherein the Penguins scored six targets every recreation.
That included a 6-5 extra time win towards the Buffalo Sabres wherein Evgeni Malkin scored his five hundredth aim and Sidney Crosby scored in extra time and had two assists, passing 1,600 NHL factors.
“We simply bought to look inward; everyone has bought to look inward and produce slightly bit extra,” Penguins ahead Lars Eller mentioned Friday. “All people generally is a chief and drag us right into a recreation, whether or not it is a aim, successful or one thing. We have to discover a solution to drag ourselves into the sport after we’re not emotionally there. We must be emotionally there, however I do not assume we have been at this time.”
Drew O’Connor scored his third aim in six video games to present the Penguins an early 1-0 lead and Joel Blomqvist made 35 saves in his third NHL begin. Carolina responded and led 3-1 because the Penguins have been outshot 28-11 by means of two intervals.
Malkin and Crosby have been every held with out a shot on aim within the recreation.
“They simply labored more durable than us and bought rewarded for it,” defenseman Kris Letang mentioned. “Clearly, early on you wish to discover your id, when you can name it that; what your group goes to be made from. You wish to set up that actually early. Proper now, it is like a curler coaster.”
The scenario can be helped if backup goalie Tristan Jarry finds his recreation. He’s 1-1-0 with a 5.47 GAA and an .836 save proportion.
The Penguins are opening a four-game Canadian highway journey that additionally contains stops in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
–Area Degree Media
