ST. LOUIS — Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, showcased his skills with 27 saves, leading the unbeaten Winnipeg Jets to a narrow 3-2 triumph over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday evening.
The Jets, who now hold a record of 6-0, saw goals in the second period from Nino Niederreiter, Colin Miller, and Kyle Connor. Cole Perfetti played a pivotal role, providing assists on all three goals during that surge.
Brandon Saad was the scoring highlight for the Blues, netting both of their goals with Robert Thomas being the assisting arm on each.
Hellebuyck’s performance not only marked his fifth win of the season but also extended his career record against the Blues to 16 wins out of 23 games.
On the other end, Jordan Binnington managed 21 saves for the Blues, who concluded their four-game homestand.
Key Insights:
The Jets have displayed a significant dominance over the Blues during the last three seasons, claiming victory in 10 of their last 12 encounters. Meanwhile, Philip Broberg, who has previously registered six points in his first six games with one goal and five assists, was unable to add to his tally in this match.
A pivotal moment came in the second period when the Jets scored three consecutive goals, breaking the game open and establishing a 3-1 lead. Niederreiter struck first on the power play at 8:12, followed by Miller scoring his inaugural goal as a Jet with just over six minutes left in the period. Connor capped the scoring spree with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle, sealing his fifth goal of the season just 2:20 before the intermission.
An important milestone was reached by Saad, who marked his 500th career point during the first period with his goal at 10:11, putting St. Louis ahead 1-0. The eight-year veteran has accumulated a notable 254 goals and 246 assists throughout his 857-game career. He was originally chosen in the second round of the 2011 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Looking ahead, the Jets are set to face the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, while the Blues will kick off a four-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs on the same day.