WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Kyle Connor achieved a remarkable natural hat trick within the first period, propelling the Winnipeg Jets to a decisive 6-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday evening.
The left-winger’s sixth career hat trick was accomplished in just 6:38, marking it the third fastest in the combined history of the Jets and Thrashers.
The Jets also saw contributions from Mark Scheifele, Neal Pionk, and Nino Niederreiter, each of whom tallied a goal and an assist during the game. Winnipeg stands out as the first team this season to reach 30 victories.
Gabriel Vilardi added three assists, while Cole Perfetti contributed two assists, achieving a milestone of 100 career points in the NHL.
In goal, Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves, earning his league-leading 27th win of the season for the Jets, who have a record of 3-1-2 during their ongoing eight-game homestand.
Nils Hoglander managed to score a goal in the third period for the Canucks, who concluded their five-game road trip with a disappointing record of 1-2-2. Kevin Lankinen stepped in to stop 27 shots for Vancouver.
Takeaways from the game indicate that the Canucks struggled as a team, with Winnipeg scoring its first four goals against different lines, highlighting their effective offensive execution.
On the other side, the Jets made the most out of their chances, capitalizing on turnovers by the Canucks and demonstrating strong puck control throughout the match.
A pivotal moment occurred when Connor scored his third goal on a breakaway, outmaneuvering Lankinen and smoothly sliding the puck past the goaltender’s reach. This goal seemed to demoralize the Canucks, who were significantly outshot 20-10 in the second period.
In terms of key statistics, Connor’s hat trick places him in the franchise’s record books, sitting just behind two former Jets. Notably, Blake Wheeler netted three goals in 4:20 in 2017, and Sean Monahan followed suit in 5:17 last February.
Looking ahead, the Canucks will be hosting the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, while the Jets are set to face off against the Seattle Kraken on the same day.
