The Winnipeg Jets started a season long 6 game road trip tonight in Pittsburgh and left with a 4-1 victory. Connor Hellebuyck picked up his league leading 14th win on the season.
First Period:
The Jets 3rd line got the Jets on the scoreboard 90 seconds into the game when they created a turnover deep inside the Penguins zone and Nino Niederreiter scored unassisted to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. There would be no other scoring in the 1st period.
Second Period:
The middle frame was all Jets. Under 5 minutes into the second period, the birthday boy Vlad Namestnikov banged in his own rebound to put the Jets up 2-0. Next, with under a minute left in the period, Gabe Vilardi scored on the PP to give the Jets a 3-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
Third Period:
The final period started with some fireworks. Sidney Crosby dropped the gloves with Kyle Connor. Crosby was frustrated after being hit with a clean reverse hit by Connor. It may have been the first career fight for Connor. Just after the 5 minute mark of the period, Michael Bunting got the Penguins on the board when he scored on the PP to make the score 3-1. That would be as close as the Penguins would get as Connor completed a Gordie Howe Hat Trick with an empty net goal to make the final score 4-1 for the Jets.
Some takeaways from the game:
With another PP goal, the Jets PP remains the best in the league.
Crosby entered the game sitting at 599 career goals. He finished the game sitting at 599 career goals. It will be quite the milestone for him when he gets that next one.
Connor's 13th goal of the season now makes him the team leader in that regard. Up until now, both he and Scheifele have maintained that 50 goal pace.
The Jets have a quick turnaround as their road trip continues tomorrow night in Nashville. I expect Eric Comrie to get the start in goal.
We are at the quarter mark of the regular season and the Jets sit as the league best with a record of 17-3.
Thanks for reading. Go Jets Go!
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
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