Winnipeg 2, Calgary 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 5, 2018
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Referees:
Ian Walsh, Kelly Sutherland
Linesmen:
David Brisebois, Brian Mach
Attendance:
15321
By Field Level Media
Blake Wheeler and Paul Stastny each scored as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 Thursday night at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves to tie Tom Barrasso for the most wins in a season by an American-born goaltender. He earned his 43rd victory this season, equaling the number Barrasso collected in 1992-93 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hellebuyck was strong from the drop of the puck, making first-period saves on both Johnny Gaudreau and Michael Frolik to deny breakaway chances.
Despite the Flames carrying the play in the first 20 minutes, Wheeler opened the scoring with 46.8 seconds remaining in the initial period. Wheeler tipped Dustin Byfuglien's slapper from the point past Flames goalie Jon Gillies for his 23rd goal and 90th point of the season.
The last player in franchise history to reach the 90-point mark in a season was Ilya Kovalchuk in 2008-09, when the club was in Atlanta.
Stastny, who has made a habit out of collecting points against the Flames, made it 2-0 Winnipeg at the 12:59 mark of the second period. Stastny was set up at the doorstep and neatly redirected Ben Chiarot's hard pass from the point for his 16th goal of the year.
Stastny has collected 25 goals and 61 points in 52 career games against Calgary. Among active players, only Daniel Sedin has scored more goals against the Flames (29). Stastny also ranks third among active players in total points against the Flames, trailing Daniel Sedin (88 points) and his brother Henrik Sedin (78).
Flames rookie Spencer Foo scored his first NHL goal with 4:46 left in the second period to put the visitors on the board. Foo made his third NHL game one to remember when he received a fortunate bounce as Michael Stone's point shot ricocheted off his skate and into the net.
The Jets, who are riding a four-game winning streak and have won 10 of 11 games, will finish second in the Central Division and have home-ice advantage in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Minnesota Wild.
Gillies stopped 24 shots for the Flames, who have lost nine of 10 games.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Calgary |
|
Winnipeg |
Spencer Foo 1 |
Points |
Paul Stastny 1 |
Spencer Foo 1 |
Goals |
Paul Stastny 1 |
Mikael Backlund 1 |
Assists |
Dustin Byfuglien 1 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Jon Gillies .923 |
Save Percentage |
Connor Hellebuyck .969 |
Jon Gillies 24 |
Saves |
Connor Hellebuyck 31 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Calgary
|
32 |
1 |
0-2 |
4-4 |
10 |
19 |
Winnipeg
|
26 |
2 |
0-4 |
2-2 |
6 |
35 |
Upcoming Games
-
Winnipeg will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Jets have a W/L % of .620 after a win and .645 after a loss.
-
Calgary will play their next game at home against Vegas. The Flames have a W/L % of .486 after a win and .409 after a loss.