A fitting game for a captain.
Blake Wheeler had two assists in his 1,000th National Hockey League game, and the Winnipeg Jets’ offense continued a steamy resurgence with a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Jets’ power play found a spark, going three of five on the night, while 11 different skaters from Winnipeg scored points in the victory.
Wheeler joined his wife and children on the ice for a pregame ceremony that included the traditional silver stick presentation, along with a video tribute that featured Jets alumnus Dustin Byfuglien in a rare post-game public appearance. The retirement.
Winnipeg opened the scoring after four minutes of play, when Pierre-Luc Dubois received a pass from Wheeler and beat the Leafs’ keeper Joseph Woll.
The Leafs would respond with a goal from Michael Bunting before the horn sounded late in the first period.
Like they did during Friday night’s win over New Jersey, Winnipeg’s offense took control with a dominating stretch of four unanswered goals from three separate lines early in the second period.
Toronto cut the four-goal lead in half thanks to scores by Ondrej Kase and Auston Matthews before the second half.
Mark Scheifele would provide the only goal in a penalty-laden third period to secure the result. ‘
Toronto lost defender Rasmus Sandin to an apparent lower body injury after colliding with Winnipeg’s Neal Pionk in the third period.
Connor Hellebuyck earned his ninth win of the season, stopping 32 of 35 shots.
Woll allowed 6 goals on 41 shots for a .854 saving percentage.
Winnipeg (12-8-4, 28 points) jumped from fifth to second in the Central Division standings with the victory, though they have played more games than the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, who are trailing by just a few points. .
Toronto (17-7-2, 36 points) remains second in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have played two fewer games.
The victory also closed out a great day for Winnipeg sports fans, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers advanced to the Gray Cup later that day with a 21-17 victory over Saskatchewan.
Read more:
Blue Bombers advance to Gray Cup after savage 21-17 Western final victory over Roughriders
The Jets will finish a four-game home run against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
Toronto is back home Tuesday to host the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The two teams will meet for the second and final time this season on March 31 at the Scotiabank Arena.
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