Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/hawks-have-jets-number- 469090963.html

'Hawks have Jets' number Winnipeg comes up short against Chicago for second time in two outings

By: Jason Bell

CHICAGO — The Winnipeg Jets left Chicago feeling a little empty on Friday night.

A solid road effort was there, they generated some scoring chances and limited the NHL’s most active marksmen to a reasonable amount of shots on .

But the Blackhawks earned two key points against their Central Division rivals, riding the superior goaltending of journeyman Jeff Glass and his 31-save effort to a 2-1 triumph over the Jets at United Center.

Glass slid across to make a ridiculous pad save off Patrik Laine with a minute left in regulation time to preserve the victory. If that wasn’t enough, Blake Wheeler hit a post with less than 20 ticks to go and the Jets’ net empty.

"It was a s—- loss. We battled well in the third, we never gave up. We had some huge scoring chances, including myself, but just couldn’t capitalize," said Laine, who took over the team goal- scoring lead with his 20th at 16:19 to pull the visitors to within one.

"Their speed, they have so much skill up front and they have so much veteran guys in their lineup, so it’s hard to play against. But we have to find some ways to beat them because we’re gonna get these kinds of games against Chicago again this season."

The Blackhawks (22-16-6) have the Jets’ number so far this season. On Dec. 14, they stormed out to a three-goal lead in the first period and dumped the Jets 5-1 in Winnipeg.

Rookie David Kampf and Jan Rutta scored second-period goals on goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who finished with 25 stops.

Laine’s laser beam to the top corner with just 3:41 left in the third period shattered Glass’s bid for his first NHL shutout. Only minutes earlier, the young Finn hit the post from the same spot at the top of the circle.

Winnipeg (26-12-7) had its three-game win streak snapped and suffered its first regulation loss in seven games. The Jets lead the division by three points over Nashville (25-11-16).

The Jets had difficulty through 40 minutes penetrating the Chicago zone with their usual speed and puck movement. Wheeler said the club seemed unwilling to alter its strategy and chip the puck deep, to its detriment.

"Being stubborn and not wanting to get the puck behind them," he said. "If you want to come up the ice and carve through them, you’re going to have a tough time."

Hellebuyck, who came into the game without a regulation loss in his last nine starts, had no chance on Kampf’s deflection of a low point shot from Connor Murphy at 4:51. But he botched the shot from Rutta, who burst down the right side and released a shot from a bad angle at 16:25.

Winnipeg needs to regroup in a hurry or the squad will begin its league-mandated bye week Sunday on a bitter note. The Jets, who kicked off a three-game road trip with a 7-4 triumph in Buffalo Tuesday, take on the tonight at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

The Hawks, who lead the league in average shots per game (34.7), buzzed around Hellebuyck but managed just seven shots in the opening period. The Jets puckstopper, selected Wednesday to play in the NHL All-Star Game later this month, got a nice feel for the biscuit early, stopping rookie Alex DeBrincat’s hard wrist shot through a maze of legs just two minutes in.

Try as they might, Winnipeg couldn’t break Glass. The 32-year-old former world junior star for Canada, finally getting a taste of the NHL after more than 12 years split between the and the KHL, earned his third victory since being called up in late December after an injury to longtime No. 1 .

Glass was sensational at times, making brilliant breakaway stops on Mathieu Perreault and Kyle Connor in the middle period with the hosts up 1-0.

The save of the game went to Chicago defenceman Gustav Forsling late in the first period, as the Jets nearly got their most fortuitous goal of the season. With a delayed coming to Dustin Byfuglien, an errant pass by blue-liner Jan Rutta slid dangerously toward his own net but was swiped away with inches to spare by Forsling.

Right after Kyle Connor was stoned on a breakaway, Rutta increased the ’Hawks’ lead to 2-0.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice wasn’t displeased with his club’s effort.

"It was just even. I don’t think they were getting to our net for second or third opportunities. We were in alone a couple of times, had a three-on-one but didn’t convert. It wasn’t an offensive game. It wasn’t for both teams," said Maurice. "There were big chunks of our game I liked today, I like the way we’ve played the last month. We’re not winning every game, so we’ll move on to the next one."

NOTES: Michael Hutchinson wore a Jets jersey once again. The 27-year-old backed up Hellebuyck after veteran Steve Mason told the team he was "not feeling well" after the morning skate.

Mason missed seven games in late November and early December with a concussion.

"We don’t want to take any chances with him, given his past history. We think he’s fine and we’ll know more (Saturday)," said Maurice.

"He finished practice and then got back from the rink he wasn’t feeling good, so we brought another guy in."

Hutchinson practised earlier in the day in Winnipeg with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose but caught a flight to Chicago in time for the pre-game skate.

Injured centre Adam Lowry (lower body) was placed on the injured reserve list retroactive to Jan. 5. He’ll be sidelined until after Winnipeg’s league-mandated five-day break. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/hutchinson-gets-called-up-to-jets-to- backup-hellebuyck-469059053.html

Hutchinson gets called up to Jets to backup Hellebuyck

By: Jason Bell

CHICAGO – Michael Hutchinson will wear a Winnipeg Jets jersey once again.

The 27-year-old goalie was called up on an emergency basis and is backing up Connor Hellebuyck here Friday night against the Blackhawks.

Veteran goalie Steve Mason was "not feeling well," a club spokesman said, prompting the recall.

In another move, injured centre Adam Lowry (lower body) was placed on the injured reserve list retroactive to Jan. 5. He'll be sidelined until after Winnipeg's league-mandated five-day break, which begins immediately following the conclusion of Saturday's game in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild.

The Jets (26-11-7) haven't lost in regulation in their last seven contests (6-0-1) and hold down top spot in the NHL's Central Division.

Hutchinson has been superb with the Manitoba Moose this season, posting a 14-2-4 record with the Moose to lead the AHL with a .942 save percentage. His 1.94 goals-against average ranks third in the league.

He was named AHL of the month for both November and December as he helped the Moose to a 16-game point streak (15-0-1) from Nov. 15 to Dec. 22.

Hutchinson has played 99 games for Winnipeg during the last four seasons and he has a 41-38- 11 record with three shutouts, a 2.63 GAA, and a .910 SV%.

The Moose recalled Jamie Phillips from the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL to replace Hutchinson.

Manitoba faces the Iowa Wild on Saturday and Sunday in a pair of afternoon games at Bell MTS Place. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/breaking-a-sweat-for-the-jet-set- 469037953.html

Breaking a sweat for the Jet set True North D (for details) man Chris Kreviazuk has just one goal — distraction- free road trips for players and their coaches — but he leads the team in assists

By: Jason Bell

CHICAGO — There are a lot of moving parts involved, but the strategy to transfer the entirety of the Winnipeg Jets hockey club from the Windy City to the Twin Cities is pretty simple.

It’s a relatively straightforward back-to-back leg of an otherwise manageable road trip that has the NHL team playing in three different cities in five days.

So, if the plan was executed according the way it was devised months ago by Chris Kreviazuk and the Winnipeg coaching staff, the properly fed, watered and rested Jets should be in the best possible condition to earn a victory Saturday over Central Division-rival Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

The rest is up to the players.

Kreviazuk, the Jets’ team services manager, is one of the most visible members of the Winnipeg entourage on each and every road trip.

The longtime member of True North Sports & Entertainment (he drove the Zamboni at the Iceplex the year before the NHL returned to the city in 2011 and spent a few years with the organization's communications department), he's easy to spot at rinks on the road. Tall, well- dressed fellow, phone to his ear.

Kreviazuk is the details guy, responsible for the day-to-day itinerary of the team, and he’s dead- set on ensuring things fall into place when the Jets are winging from one city to another in their quest for victories and, ultimately, a landing spot in the NHL post-season.

Booking hotel rooms, renting buses and co-ordinating with opposing organizations for their help upon arrival began just after Winnipeg’s 2017-18 schedule was unveiled June 22, the day before the start of the NHL Draft, he says.

"Within two or three days, I’m in an office with (head coach) Paul (Maurice), Chevy (general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff) and the assistant coaches hammering out when we want to fly, where we want to stay, when are we practising, things like that. Our calendar must be emailed to everybody — all True North staff — by late August," he says.

"As we get closer to the season, we start reaching out to specific (teams) and figuring out ice times and where we can skate at. We send out what’s called an equipment transfer, and that’s basically a detailed report of ‘here’s where we land, here’s when we land, here’s the ice time we’re requesting for practices, for morning skates and food we need in the room,’ and they send it back, ‘check, check, check, all good.’

"Things change along the way, but it’s kind of like being an event planner."

The trip that began in Buffalo on Monday and ends when the team’s chartered plane leaves Minneapolis and touches down at James Richardson International Airport before midnight is a fairly typical road swing. It means moving about 45 people: 22 players, Cheveldayoff, Maurice and his coaching staff, trainers, communications staff and the TSN broadcast crew, their luggage and mounds of equipment.

The logistics can be tricky, but Kreviazuk says road trips usually unfold with relatively few glitches. The key, he says, is to ensure a comfortable routine for the athletes and coaching staff.

"We try to keep their schedules as similar to being as home as possible," he says. We have meals at the same time, with good, quality food. We put them in nice hotels. A restful sleep with a nice bed really makes a difference. If they have some extra energy because they slept well, that’s exactly what we want.

"I try to do as much as possible for the guys so they focus only on hockey. We don’t want them to worry about anything else when they’re on the road."

Prior to Friday’s game with the Blackhawks, the Jets were 10-8-6 on the road this season — one of the better away records in the Western Conference.

Centre Matt Hendricks says they need to keep finding ways to win away from the friendly confines of Bell MTS Place, where the team is a spectacular 16-3-1. And some of the best squads he’s played either on, or against, in his 10-year NHL career really get their mojo going on the road.

"When you get out here, hockey’s really all you think about. It’s a pretty easy routine. You hang out with your buddies, you go to dinner, you go to movies, you make sure you get pretty good rest and you play hockey," he says. "To me, the road’s a lot of fun because we’re together a lot and there’s that team bonding going on.

"There’s some guys who perform better on the road for those reasons, just getting away from any distractions. You just think hockey. I’ve always enjoyed it and I think I’ve performed well over my career."

The Jets practised Monday at Bell MTS Place and then hopped on bus to the airport. Kreviazuk and the team’s travel co-ordinator, Silvana Gosgnach, handed out boarding passes, and the the large group goes through security and U.S. Customs just like regular travellers.

The team flies on Air Canada Jetz, a 58-seat plane configured to business class — equipped with Wi-Fi — and, by 2 p.m., it was wheels up for the 2 1/2-hour flight to Buffalo for Tuesday's date with the Sabres.

Players occupy the rear of the plane, and the rest of the contingent is spread out at the front. Kreviazuk rarely makes his way to the back, preferring to sit up front with Cheveldayoff and the coaching staff.

"I don’t go to the back there that much, that’s their area," he says.

There's work being done at the front — coaches are on their laptops scheming drills and analyzing video; it's another story for the players.

Some choose to snooze and others pass the time binge-watching movies or TV shows. But over the course of the 2017-18 campaign, the Jets' card sharks will play hours of a trick-based game called Snarples.

"We've always ready to get on the plane and play some cards. We have our own table," says Patrik Laine, the youngest member of the team, who adds he's done a lot more losing than winning. "Wheels (team captain Blake Wheeler) is a good card player and so is Matty P. (Mathieu Perreault); the veteran guys know how to play."

Shawn Matthias steers clear of the card games but admits there's no escaping the boisterousness from the boys around the table.

"After a big win the plane can get a little rowdy, for sure," he says with a grin. "There's about seven or eight of them always playing cards and sometimes they get a little loud. The rest of us are trying to sleep or watch our shows in the back.

"It's fun being on the road. Winning is obviously everything and it makes the time together that much more fun."

On the ground in the visiting city, a pair of buses meets the group at the airport and hauls them to their hotel. About 90 per cent of the time, the team stays in its preferred hotels, usually downtown and as close to the arenas as possible.

Veterans get their own rooms, but the guys still on entry-level deals share space. That's the rule, according to the last collective bargaining agreement between the league and players’ union.

On this three-gamer, the math worked out well, Kreviazuk said.

"We’re carrying six guys on entry level (Laine, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey, Jack Roslovic and Brendan Lemieux) so, it’s very easy — two, two and two. On trips where there's an odd number, I defer to the most veteran guy who wants his room. That would typically be Nik, but he likes to room with his buddy Patty, so Josh gets that honour now.

"I think a lot of the guys prefer to have a roommate. I think it helps if one guy is more organized, like if someone’s alarm doesn’t go off the other guy can wake him... they have each other’s backs."

Problems that surface when transferring that big a group mirror the issues that tend to frustrate regular business travellers and vacationers.

Delays at airports happen. Bus drivers get lost. Someone’s room key doesn’t work.

"Everybody who’s been around the league a while has got the story of the plane not showing up. The other day we were sitting on the plane (departing to St. Louis) and there was a mechanical problem. So, now we don’t leave for five or six hours and we got in later than we wanted to," says Maurice. "It’s always weather- or mechanical-related. I was snowed in at Denver for three days.

"Nobody’s doing much complaining. We charter a plan, stay in fantastic hotels and the food is top-notch every day. The only challenge on the road is the grind of time zones and that lack of sleep.

"So, it’s managing that sleep schedule, that practice schedule, that’s what I find is the biggest challenge. That’s life in the Western Conference. I spent a lot of time in the Eastern Conference and it’s not an issue, you’re home more. But that’s a big part of life for us."

Kreviazuk says even when there’s a snag in the best-laid plans, he rarely hears a peep from the current collection of Jets.

"It’s a really fantastic group. They don’t ask for too much," he says. "As time goes on you really build a team with the kind of character guys you want and it really benefits a guy like me because I’ve heard some horror stories about guys around the league in my position who just get run ragged by their teams. Our guys aren’t like that at all.

"They’re very nice to me and they don’t complain about things they know I cannot control. It’s a blue-collar group of guys. And every year it gets better and better. It doesn’t hurt, either, when the team’s doing so well, why they’re having so much fun together. Winning is contagious, the jokes are funnier, the mood is great." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/manitoba-moose/rambling-moose-hit-speed- bump-469071093.html

Rambling Moose hit speed bump Despite recent slowdown, Manitoba remains comfortably atop the AHL standings

By: Mike McIntyre

It hardly qualifies as a slump. But given the way the Manitoba Moose had been laying waste to their opponents, their recent stretch of play has at least brought them back down to Earth a bit.

Manitoba has just one win in its past four games (1-1-2) and two in their past six (2-2-2).

This comes on the heels of a franchise-record 16 straight games in which they collected points (15-0-1).

Sure, the Moose still lead the American Hockey League with a 25-7-5 record. And yes, that gives them a double-digit cushion within their division. But as they hit the halfway point of their schedule today by hosting the Iowa Wild at Bell MTS Place at 2 p.m., head coach Pascal Vincent wants his team to get back to what has made them so successful.

"Our team hasn’t been playing as fast as we should be. If we play slow, or we try to slow it down, just like anybody in this league or in the NHL, you become an average team. So it’s just getting back on track," Vincent told the Free Press on Friday following practice.

Perhaps it’s not surprising the Moose have hit a bit of a bump. After all, leading scorer Jack Roslovic has been up with the Winnipeg Jets for nearly two weeks.

He was near the top of the AHL scoring race at the time of his recall. Power forward Brendan Lemieux, who has averaged a point per game with the Moose this season, also is with the Jets.

Manitoba is also without Cameron Schilling, who leads the defence in scoring, as the result of an injury. Same goes with versatile forward J.C. Lipon. Both players will remain out of the lineup this weekend but could be ready within a week.

The absence of those four was especially noticeable earlier this week. Manitoba was thumped 5-1 on home ice Wednesday by the defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins.

"You expect those kinds of games at times in the season, and you need to learn from them," Vincent said.

With the callups and injuries, new opportunities have been created for players. One of those has gone to Jimmy Lodge, a 2013 third-round pick of the Jets who was sent to the ECHL at the start of this season.

After putting up 28 points in 30 games (10 goals, 18 assists) with the Jacksonville Icemen, Lodge was recalled last week by the Moose. He’s recorded one assist in three AHL games so far this season.

"I was on a good roll, and feeling good overall," Lodge said Friday of his time down south, where he was logging big minutes in key roles with that team.

Lodge was with the Moose all of last year, scoring eight goals and adding 10 assists in 63 games. But greater depth within the organization has pushed him down a level.

"These guys have been doing well. They were sticking to the little details and playing the game hard. I think if we get back to that, we’ll get back to the winning ways," Lodge said of the Moose.

Forward Chase De Leo said he believes the club is well-equipped to handle a bit of adversity for the first time all season. He said some sloppiness was creeping into their game, even when they were still extending their point streak, which they’re now working to erase.

"We know this is how it’s going to be in the second half of the season and going into playoffs, it’s only going to get harder and harder," said De Leo, who has eight goals and 14 assists in 37 games this season.

Manitoba’s most recent victory occurred last Saturday in Iowa. The Moose face the Wild this afternoon and Sunday at 2 p.m. Manitoba finishes up a six-game homestand next Friday and Saturday against the Texas Stars before hitting the road for a season-long eight-game trip.

"Big matchup this weekend. We’re going to be ready to go. Had a good couple days of practise and video. We’re refreshed and ready to go," De Leo said.

Winnipeg Sun http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/too-little-too-late-as-jets-fall-to- blackhawks

Too little, too late, as Jets fall to Blackhawks

By Ken Wiebe

CHICAGO — The words just didn’t sound right coming out of the mouth of captain Jonathan Toews.

As the Blackhawks were getting set to face the Winnipeg Jets for the second time this season, Toews was holding court in front of his locker following the morning skate and he was being totally genuine when he suggested his team should be considered the underdogs in the matchup.

If you go strictly by the standings, yes the Blackhawks could be considered an underdog, if there is such a thing during a January game in an 82-game NHL season.

Going into the contest, the Jets were sitting atop the Central Division standings, 13 points ahead of the Blackhawks, who had momentarily fallen below the playoff in the Western Conference standings but were still in the fight.

“There are so many good players and so many good teams. You’ve really got to work to say on top,” said Toews, whose team moved back into a wild-card spot after a 2-1 win over the Jets on Friday at the United Center. “We’re having to work really hard to earn our success this year.”

The Blackhawks are still the Blackhawks, even if the complementary pieces around the core have changed dramatically after winning the in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

And these Blackhawks are now 2-0 against the Jets this season.

“They’re a quick team, they give us some trouble,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler, who nearly tied the game on a shot that rattled off the iron during the final 30 seconds. “We just weren’t able to make the extra play. We got a couple of looks but it just wasn’t enough.”

The Jets, who slipped to 26-12-7 on the season, lost for the first time in regulation since the Christmas break and are back in action on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.

It’s the final game for the Jets before the five-day break mandated by the collective bargaining agreement.

The Blackhawks broke the deadlock at 4:51 of the second period when third-line centre David Kampf deflected home a point shot from Connor Murphy for his first NHL goal.

The Blackhawks had an interesting week before the Jets arrived, one that included making three-time Stanley Cup winner Brent Seabrook a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the .

Then on Wednesday, the Blackhawks made a trade with the to bring in speedy forward Anthony Duclair.

Duclair chipped in an assist in his Blackhawks debut on Friday and is a low-risk pick-up with plenty of offensive upside – a one-time 20-goal scorer who needed a fresh start.

Speaking of story-lines, the legend of journeyman goalie Jeff Glass continues to grow.

Glass is more familiar to Manitobans, from his time serving as the starting goalie for the dominant Canadian team that captured the gold medal at the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, N.D. that included the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Shea Weber to name a few.

But Glass never got a shot in the NHL until Dec. 29 of 2017, when he made his first start at the age of 32.

Glass improved to 3-1-1 on Friday after making 31 saves against the Jets, whose lone goal came from Patrik Laine (his 20th), with 3:41 left in the third period.

Laine, who hit a post during the third period, also had a one-timer stopped by the right pad of Glass as the Jets pushed for the equalizer late in the contest.

“Yeah, he made a good save. I should have scored, but I couldn’t get (the shot) high enough,” said Laine. “We played well in the third and found a way to battle back. We never gave up. We had some scoring chances, including myself, but we just couldn’t capitalize.”

Shortly after that save, the Blackhawks extended the lead on a rare softie against Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

As Rutta walked in from the right point, he slipped a shot from near the bottom of the circle through Hellebuyck, who was named to the Central Division All-star team earlier this week along with Wheeler.

On Friday afternoon, the Jets needed to make a roster move after goalie Steve Mason wasn’t feeling well.

Mason was hit by a high shot during the morning skate, but Jets head coach Paul Maurice said it was too early to tell if Mason not feeling well was possibly related to sustaining another concussion.

“He got back to the hotel and wasn’t really feeling good at all,” said Maurice. “I can (say) that emphatically. I have absolutely no idea what it’s related to. We don’t want to take any chances with him, given his past history. I think he’s fine and we’ll see on (Saturday).”

Mason suffered the second concussion of his NHL career on Nov. 25 after he took a slapshot off the mask from San Jose Sharks forward Jannik Hansen.

Mason missed seven games because of the injury and has only started three games since.

With Mason unable to serve as the backup on Friday, the Jets summoned Michael Hutchinson from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

To make room for Hutchinson, the Jets placed centre Adam Lowry on the injured reserve list, since he wasn’t likely to return until Jan. 20 anyway.

Since being sent to the minors, Hutchinson has been dynamite, posting a record of 14-2-4, while leading the AHL with a .942 save % and sitting third with a 1.94 goals-against average.

Hutchinson is up on emergency recall and isn’t expected to see any game action as Maurice is likely to go back with Hellebuyck on Saturday against the Wild.

Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-spt-blackhawks-jets-20180112- story.html

Blackhawks, Jeff Glass hold on for 2-1 victory over Jets

By Paul Skrbina

Blackhawks goalie Jeff Glass was on his way toward the bench. The stray puck was on its way toward the empty net. The Blackhawks were on their way toward embarrassment.

But defenseman Gustav Forsling saved face — and an own goal from newcomer Anthony Duclair — when he swatted the puck from the crease with 1 minute, 23 seconds left in the first period of the Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory over the Central-leading Jets on Friday night at the United Center.

A delayed penalty against the Jets’ Dustin Byfuglien prompted the chaos.

After Forsling took a gift from the Jets, Blackhawks center David Kampf gave himself — and the Blackhawks — one when his stick caught a piece of Connor Murphy’s shot with 15:09 left in the second period.

As a result, Kampf found himself celebrating his first NHL goal with friends wearing matching sweaters on his 23rd birthday after he broke the scoreless tie. He’s the first player in Blackhawks history to score his first goal on his birthday, according to Elias.

“We wanted a guy in the middle,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said in late December after Kampf was recalled. “It has been an important spot for us. We think he can add speed; There’s upside with him offensively.”

Jan Rutta was the next Blackhawk to push the puck past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. He whizzed his second goal in three games into the net with 3:35 left in the second after receiving a redemption pass from Duclain. Kampf was credited with the secondary assist on that goal, making it his first multi-point performance in his ninth game.

Not to be outdone, 32-year-old rookie Glass, starting his fifth career game and first since Jan. 5, stopped 31 shots to help push the Hawks back into the second wild-card spot by virtue of their 22 regulation victories compared to the Wild’s 21.

Several of his saves were of the spectacular fashion, including two in a row late in the third against Bryan Little. First he stopped Little, who was coming from his left, then Glass stretched out his right leg to stop the subsequent shot.

“The scouts have found goalies who are having a tough time trying to find a place to play,” Quenneville said. “They get an opportunity here and I like how they’ve all seized it. … Glasser’s story is pretty amazing. It’s a competitive world out there.”

A few minutes after Patrik Laine pinged one in off the post with 3:38 left to cut the Hawks’ lead in half.

The Jets were 6-0-1 in their previous seven games and had scored 15 goals in their last three.

Paul Skrbina’s three stars 1. Jeff Glass, Hawks: Had 31 saves in fifth career start.

2. Jan Rutta, Hawks: Fifth goal gave Blackhawks lead for good.

3. David Kampf, Hawks: First career goal; also had an assist for first multi-point game of his career.

Up next: Vs. Red Wings, 11:30 a.m. Sunday; NBC-5, WGN-AM 720

Chicago Daily Tribune http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180112/glass-forsling-come-up-huge-hawks-edge-jets-2-1

Glass, Forsling come up huge, Hawks edge Jets 2-1

By John Dietz

Jeff Glass is paid to stop the puck from going into the net and he did a sensational job during the Blackhawks' 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the United Center on Friday.

But believe it or not, the no-doubt save of the game came courtesy of 21-year-old defenseman Gustav Forsling.

With Glass on the bench, thanks to a delayed Jets penalty in a scoreless first period, the puck escaped the Hawks' offensive zone and was sliding right toward their net. The gasping crowd couldn't believe its collective eyes as the puck slid to 10 feet … five … three … one …

Then -- just before it was set to cross the line -- Forsling arrived to swipe it out of harm's way.

"I saw it going pretty fast so I just skated for my life," Forsling said.

Almost unbelievably, it was four years to the day that Patrick Kane scored an "own goal" from 190 feet away in a 5-3 win over the Edmoton Oilers at the United Center.

The Hawks got goals from David Kampf -- his first in the NHL -- and Jan Rutta to take 2-0 lead in the second period then staved off a furious challenge by Winnipeg. Patrik Laine scored with 3:41 left and he nearly tied it up with a one-timer with 1:11 remaining that Glass somehow kicked aside.

"I knew there was a guy back door," said Glass, who made 31 saves and improved to 3-1-1. "I wasn't sure who was there. But there was a lot of traffic on my left side, so I was trying to get an eye on the puck. As soon as I saw the puck go across, I knew it was going to be a bang-bang play."

Laine's 10 shots attempts (5 on goal) included 2 shots that hit the post late in the third period.

Jordan Oesterle deserves some serious kudos as well for laying out to break up a 2-on-1 with 6:47 left in the second period.

All in all, it was a stellar defensive effort from a team that's been struggling to find consistency on the back end. It was also a big win over the Jets, who sit atop the Central Division at 26-12- 7.

"It was a great team effort," Glass said. "I know that cliche gets used but it really was. We checked hard all game. We really did make my life easy. It was a lot of outside shots, a lot of blocked shots. Total team effort."

The Hawks (22-16-6) are 15-4-3 when scoring first and 5-2-1 in their last eight games.

Kampf, playing in just his ninth NHL game since earning a call up from Rockford, opened the scoring at 4:51 of the second period when he tipped in a Connor Murphy blast from the point.

"It's pretty special," said Kampf, who turned 23 on Friday. "It's the best day of my life that I scored my first NHL goal on my birthday."

Rutta, who leads all Blackhawks defensemen with 5 goals, ripped a shot that found its mark at 16:25 of the second to make it 2-0.

The Hawks host Detroit on Sunday then have five days off before playing their next three games at the United Center.

Associated Press http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180112/sports/301129769

Blackhawks beat Jets behind Kampf's first goal

By MATT CARLSON Associated Press

CHICAGO -- The Blackhawks got a lift Friday night from a pair of first-year players - only one of whom is technically young enough to be considered a rookie.

David Kampf scored his first NHL goal and added an assist on his 23rd birthday, Jeff Glass blocked 31 shots and Chicago held off the Winnipeg Jets 2-1.

Jan Rutta also scored for the Blackhawks, who ended the Jets' three-game winning streak and handed Winnipeg its first regulation loss in seven games (6-0-1).

"It's pretty special," Kampf said through a translator. "It's the best day in my life to score the first NHL goal on my birthday."

Glass, a 32-year-old who made his NHL debut on Dec. 29, lost a bid for his first shutout when Patrik Laine scored with 3:41 left in the third period. Winnipeg, the high-scoring Central Division leaders, came on with a late flurry, but Glass was sharp in his fifth NHL game to improve to 3-1- 1.

"We checked hard all game," Glass said. "Made my life easy."

That was mostly the case until the Jets nearly tied it in the final minutes, when they started buzzing in the Chicago zone.

"They pressed," Glass said. "I still think we did a great job hanging on."

Chicago's No. 1 goalie, Corey Crawford, missed his ninth game with an upper-body injury. No timetable is set for his return.

Anthony Duclair, acquired from Arizona on Wednesday as part of a four-player trade, had an assist in his Blackhawks debut as he skated on a line with Kampf and Alex DeBrincat. The trio was on the ice for both Chicago goals.

GM Stan Bowman said he acquired the speedy 22-year-old Duclair to add more quickness.

"That line played well," coach Joel Quenneville said. "They immediately were noticed right off the bat. Whether it was quickness off the rush with the puck, they did some good things."

Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 shots.

"It wasn't an offensive game," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "It wasn't for both teams. It was an even grinder.

"We hit a couple of posts and didn't finish our chances. They made the most of the few chances they had and that was it."

One of the best chances during a scoreless first period was a near own-goal by Chicago.

Duclair lost control of the puck in the Blackhawks zone after Dustin Byfuglien slashed him with about a minute left in the period. With a delayed penalty pending, Glass headed to the bench for an extra attacker as the puck slid toward Chicago's empty net. Defenseman Gustav Forsling sprinted back and the swept the puck wide just before it crossed the goal line.

Kampf, playing his ninth game, opened the scoring at 4:51 of the second when Connor Murphy's screened shot from the left point deflected in off him.

Glass made a point-blank stick save on Mathieu Perreault during a Winnipeg power-play with just over eight minutes left in the second. He stopped Kyle Connor on a breakaway with 4:42 remaining.

Rutta made it 2-0 just 49 seconds later when his shot from the lower edge of the right circle bounded in off Hellebuyck's pads on the short side. Duclair assisted on the goal and screened Rutta's shot.

Winnipeg's Bryan Little missed on an attempt from the edge of the crease with 5:30 to go. Seconds later, Laine fired a shot off the left post.

Laine cut it to 2-1 with a rising shot from the right circle that sailed over Glass' right shoulder.

"He's got one of the best releases in the league and he proved it on that shot," Glass said.

Glass made a sliding pad save on Laine with 1:15 left and Blake Wheeler hit the post with 23 seconds left.

NOTES: Chicago C Artem Anisimov missed his eighth game with an upper-body injury. Coach Joel Quenneville hopes he'll be able to return on Jan. 20 when the Blackhawks return from their bye week and host the . ... Duclair saw power-play duty on a line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. ... The Jets recalled G Michael Hutchinson from Manitoba of the AHL to backup Hellebuyck as G Steve Mason sat out with an undisclosed illness. "We got back to hotel and wasn't feeling well at all," Maurice said.... Winnipeg C Adam Lowry (upper- body) missed his third game and was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 5. He's expected to be out until Jan. 20 when the Jets return from their bye week. ... Jets LW Brandon Tanev missed his sixth with a lower-body injury.

UP NEXT Jets: At Minnesota on Saturday in their final game before their bye week. Blackhawks: Host Detroit on Sunday in an 11:30 a.m. CST start in their final game before their bye week.

Chicago Sun-Times https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/david-kampf-jeff-glass-lead-blackhawks-to-win-over- division-leading-jets/

David Kampf, Jeff Glass lead Blackhawks to win over division-leading Jets

By Mark Lazerus

For the last 10 seconds of the second period Friday night, David Kampf looked like a defensive specialist in the NBA, knees bent, arms outstretched, harassing Jets All-Star Blake Wheeler to the point of exasperation.

Wheeler tried going left, but Kampf was there. He tried going right, but Kampf was there again. He tried wheeling back to the left, but Kampf knocked him to his knees. Two more tries toward the right and the period was over, with Wheeler pressured all the way back from the high slot to the blue line along the boards, and Kampf earning a well-deserved ovation at the end of the best period of his brief NHL career. A goal, an assist, and a 2-1 victory — on his 23rd birthday, no less.

“It’s the best day in my life,” Kampf said.

If the Hawks are going to climb back into the playoff picture and make a run, their biggest stars must lead the way. But depth is every bit as critical as star power in the NHL, and the Hawks’ third line — with Kampf centering newcomer Anthony Duclair and Alex DeBrincat — was a difference-maker in their second impressive win over the division-leading Jets in the past month. It put the Hawks back into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Duclair, in his debut, had an assist and created several scoring chances, including a partial breakaway in the third.

“He has some offensive flair [and] adds some skill to our team,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “I thought he did a lot of good things.”

On top of the third line, the Hawks got a massive effort from their third-string goalie, as Jeff Glass returned to the net and had a terrific game, making 31 saves. He prevented Marko Dano from scoring on a juicy rebound in the first, stoned Mathieu Perreault from point-blank range on a power play in the second, stopped Kyle Connor on a breakaway right before a Hawks goal later in the second, and made a huge pad stop on Bryan Little on a critical Jets power play late in the third. The Hawks were a perfect 3-for-3 against the Jets’ second-ranked power play.

Winnipeg had scored four or more goals in six of its last seven games.

“He was great today,” Quenneville said. “You like how he battles, how he competes, and he found a way to get us two points.”

Kampf gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead by deflecting a Connor Murphy shot at 4:51 of the second period. Kampf added an assist later in the period when Duclair set up Jan Rutta for a goal to make it 2-0.

Forsling to the rescue Gustav Forsling made a big save. During a delayed penalty, with Glass on the bench for an extra attacker, Duclair’s pass skittered out of the zone and was headed straight for the net until Forsling raced down the ice and swept it aside just before it went in.

“That would have been bad,” Duclair said with a laugh. “Good back-check by him. I got scared for a little bit.”

Anisimov update Sunday’s game will be the ninth straight missed by Artem Anisimov. But Quenneville was holding out hope that he could return shortly after — or immediately after — next week’s bye week. Anisimov has yet to skate since the injury.

“Hopefully he can play right away after the break, but it might take him a game, I’m not sure,” Quenneville said.

The Athletic Chicago https://www.theathletic.com//210989/2018/01/13/anthony-duclair-skirts-disaster-in-strong-first- impression-with-blackhawks/?redirected=1

Anthony Duclair skirts disaster in strong first impression with Blackhawks

By Scott Powers

Anthony Duclair's Blackhawks debut nearly became memorable for the wrong reason.

The Winnipeg Jets had been called for a penalty in the second period on Friday, prompting Blackhawks goalie Jeff Glass to leave the ice for an extra attacker. The puck ended up on Duclair's stick in the offensive zone, and he tried to play it off the boards to teammate Gustav Forsling at the point.

But the puck didn't abide Duclair's direction and skidded past Forsling. The puck had speed, and Forsling recognized that right away as he began chasing after it. Duclair could only watch in fear as the puck sailed toward the Blackhawks' nets.

Forsling didn't initially think he was going to get to it, but he did just as it came within a foot of the net.

“I saw it going,” Forsling said with a smile. “It went pretty fast. I skated for my life.”

Duclair was grateful for that.

“That would have been bad,” Duclair said. “It's a good backcheck by him there. I got scared there for a little bit, but it was good backchecking.”

Aside from nearly having his debut marred by an own goal, Duclair's first Blackhawks game went about as well as anyone could have expected. It was just two days ago Duclair discovered after getting off a flight from Mexico that his wish of being traded from the Arizona Coyotes had been granted and that he was heading to the Blackhawks. Prior to Friday, he had been off the ice for six days because the Coyotes had been on their bye week.

Add in the adjustment period that comes with playing for a new team, and it wasn't the optimal situation for Duclair on Friday. But he made the most of it. The United Center helped get his adrenaline going during the national anthem.

“It's awesome,” Duclair said of playing before the capacity crowd. “Especially as a visitor player with Arizona, you always want to get up to play these games. It's obviously an unbelievable crowd. Can't imagine playing for this team. Right off the bat, the national anthem, that got me going. You just feed off the crowd sometimes.”

On his first shift, the 22-year-old Duclair began showing some of his high-end speed and skill by carrying the puck into the zone and helping create a quality look for linemate Alex DeBrincat.

It was just the start for Duclair. Throughout the game, it became easy to see how his game has already translated to a 20-goal season, and how he can be dynamic at times.

In the second period, Duclair played a role in both of the Blackhawks' goals. He helped force the puck into the offensive zone and got a few touches before Connor Murphy's point shot was deflected by David Kampf into the net to put the Blackhawks ahead 1-0. Later in the period, Duclair got the puck behind the net, skated with it toward the top of the offensive zone and delivered it to Jan Rutta at the right point. As Rutta made a move and began skating into the right circle, Duclair crashed the net. With Duclair partially shielding Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Rutta shot a wrister that found a way into the net.

One scout who hadn't seen much of Duclair prior to Friday remarked after the period about how he had only heard that Duclair lacked hockey intelligence. But the scout saw something different in the first two periods and complemented Duclair on his hockey sense. He didn't make any definitive assessments, but he said Duclair had “all the tools to be successful.”

Duclair was close to really making his debut special when he received a pass while entering the offensive zone and beat a Jets defender with speed to get to the net. It was just him and Hellebuyck, and Hellebuyck denied him.

It was one he certainly would have liked to have back. But all in all, he was pleased with his first game.

“I would like to finish a bit more at times,” he said. “Like I said, it was my first game in a week, so it was a little tough first period for myself. But I think once I got my legs underneath me, I think I started to make more plays.”

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville assisted in easing Duclair into his first game. Quenneville bumped Patrick Sharp to the fourth line to make room for Duclair on the third line with DeBrincat and Kampf, and also gave him time with the top power-play unit.

Some assumed Quenneville was going to insert Duclair on the fourth line because there was a logical opening there and Sharp had scored a few goals as of late, but Quenneville understood Duclair has some special abilities and wanted to see whether he could perform in an optimal situation.

“He has some offensive flair, has some different looks for us, adds some skill to our team,” Quenneville said. “I thought he did a lot of good things, in the puck area and with the puck. Good opportunity for him to take advantage of some quality ice.

“New line and I thought you noticed them off the bat, whether it was quickness off the rush, with the puck. They did some good things and were good in their end as well. That line has the ability to create offense off the rush and in the zone, quick to pucks and they have some skill and some quick plays in tight areas that could turn into quick counter-attack chances.”

It was a day of surprises for Duclair. He didn't expect his dressing room stall to be next to Jonathan Toews', but it was. He didn't expect to be tossed on the power play right away, but he was. Coming from a situation where he felt he didn't always get the greatest of opportunities, Duclair was grateful for his new reality on Friday.

“It was nice to just get the opportunity here,” Duclair said. “Like I said, I wasn't expecting anything. I just want to come out here and play my hardest and help any way I can to get the wins.”

Duclair's defensive play might have helped earn him more responsibility. He broke up a few passes on the forecheck, got his stick on a few pucks in the neutral zone and wasn't just floating around in the defensive zone. In 8:28 of 5-on-5 ice time, he was a plus-2 Corsi (7-5) and had a plus-2 goal differential in the 2-1 victory.

With the Blackhawks having Vinnie Hinostroza on the first line, Nick Schmaltz on the second line and Duclair on the third line, they have three speedy forwards who can be used in a variety of ways.

“Helps getting to pucks when there are races, certainly helps and I still think we can manage the puck better,” Quenneville said. “Had some stretches today, we put them in areas where we can’t arrive first, and that’s part of us being a more effective team and taking advantage and capitalizing on quickness and speed so we can use it and keep it. Those guys have the ability to arrive first and it can benefit us to turn pucks over with their quickness and win races, be it in the neutral zone and the forecheck as well.”

It's one game, but the Blackhawks and Duclair have to feel good about the trade. Duclair was desperate for a change of scenery and ended up on a team that could use his skill. For the Blackhawks, the trade is potentially a win-win. They got rid of a struggling player with a sizeable contract and brought in a younger player with a smaller cap hit and a higher ceiling.

Duclair isn't taking this chance for granted either. He knows the opportunity the fresh start has afforded him.

“I think it’s going to be huge for me,” he said after the morning skate Friday. “Especially just the way they play and watching them play over the years, they play with a lot of speed and skill, and I think that fits in to my strengths. I talked to Joel and talked to the coaching staff here and just drawing up the system, how they want me to play, fits into my role.

“[I wanted to leave Arizona for] a combination, a bit of everything, I think. In that situation, I was a healthy scratch at times. I didn’t have the leash that others had. Not going to say it was unfair to me, but at the same time, just talking to older guys on the team, as well, they felt like I deserved a little better, and I thought so, too. It wasn’t a decision I made overnight. It obviously dragged on for a while, but just happy to be here.”

Happy, and relieved he didn't score on his own net in his first game wearing a Blackhawks sweater. Asked if he owes Forsling dinner, Duclair replied, “I might, I guess.”

NHL.com https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-chicago-blackhawks-game-recap/c-294908260

Glass, Kampf pace Blackhawks past Jets Goalie makes 31 saves, rookie center scores first NHL goal for Chicago by Charlie Roumeliotis / NHL.com Correspondent

CHICAGO -- David Kampf scored his first NHL goal, and Jeff Glass made 31 saves to help the Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 at United Center on Friday.

"It's pretty special," Kampf, a rookie center from the Czech Republic, said through an interpreter after getting his first multipoint game of his NHL career on his 23rd birthday. "It's the best day [of my] life that [I] scored [my] first NHL goal on [my] birthday."

Jan Rutta also scored for Chicago (22-16-6), which won for the third time in four games (3-1-0).

Patrik Laine scored for Winnipeg (26-12-7), which had a three-game winning streak end.

Kampf gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 4:51 of the second period when he redirected a slap shot by Connor Murphy from the point.

"Obviously nice to score your first goal and that line played well," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "... Their speed and quickness, and plays off the rush. Defensively, they're good in their own end. Did a good job killing penalties, so a good night for him and the line."

Rutta extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:25 when his wrist shot snuck underneath the arm of goalie Connor Hellebuyck. It was Rutta's second goal in three games and fifth of the season, the most among defensemen on the Blackhawks. Anthony Duclair, acquired by the Blackhawks from the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, assisted on the goal in his debut.

"Our whole line was buzzing," Duclair said. "The whole team, all four lines were rolling. When you get that energy on the bench, it's great."

Laine made it 2-1 when he snapped a wrist shot past Glass' right shoulder with 3:41 remaining in the third period.

"Honestly, it was a great shot," Glass said. "He's got one of the best releases in the League and he proved it on that shot there, so I tip my hat to him. He put it right in the corner."

Hellebuyck made 25 saves. He lost for the first time in regulation since a 5-1 loss against the Blackhawks in Winnipeg on Dec. 14. He had been 7-0-2 in that stretch.

"It was a great team effort," Glass said. "I know that cliché gets used but it really was. We checked hard all game. We really did make my life easy. It was a lot of outside shots, a lot of blocked shots. Total team effort."

Goal of the game Kampf's goal at 4:51 of the second period.

Save of the game Glass' save on Kyle Connor at 15:34 of the second period.

Highlight of the game Glass' save on Laine at 18:49 of the third period.

They said it "They have so [many] veteran guys in their lineup, it's hard to play against [them], but we've got to find some ways to beat them because we're going to get these kinds of games against Chicago again this season and we've got to find some tools to win." -- Jets forward Patrik Laine

"I'm just trying to prove myself every single day. It's really not about me anymore. It's about the team and getting the points. I really do mean that. I'm trying to help this team win as much as I can." -- Blackhawks goalie Jeff Glass

Need to know Jets forward Blake Wheeler had his season-long seven-game point streak end. Laine has a goal in consecutive games after going seven straight without one. ... Duclair had an assist and was plus-2 in 11:57, including 2:16 on the power play. The Blackhawks are 6-2-0 in their past eight home games.

What's next Jets: At the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, FS-N, NHL.TV) Blackhawks: Host the on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET; NBC, TVA Sports, NHL.TV)

TSN.ca https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/mclennan-hellebuyck-should-be-a-vezina-finalist~1302739

McLennan: 'Hellebuyck should be a Vezina finalist'

Jamie McLennan joins SportsCentre to discuss Connor Hellebuyck's progression over the last year and how his solid play is helping the jets be one of the top teams in the West.

TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINKS) https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/ferraro-wheeler-deserves-to-be-an-all-star-1.966846

Ferraro: Wheeler deserves to be an All-Star

Ray Ferraro joins the Afternoon Ride and discusses his experience at the World Juniors, how the Jets have performed without Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler's play at centre, what the Jets should do at the trade deadline and the playoff race in the Central Division. https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/peacock-spacek-sgarbossa-seeing-increased- responsibility-following-roslovic-call-up-1.966837

Peacock: Spacek, Sgarbossa seeing increased responsibility following Roslovic call up

Manitoba Moose play-by-play voice Mitch Peacock discusses the Moose's tough set of games vs. Grand Rapids, how the call ups of Jack Roslovic and Brendan Lemieux have affected the roster and the play of the . www.winnipegjets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/glass-31-saves-lead-blackhawks-over-jets/c-294905420 (INTERVIEWS INCLUDED)

Glass' 31 saves lead Blackhawks over Jets Laine scores team-leading 20th of the year in one-goal loss by Jamie Thomas @JamieThomasTV / WinnipegJets.com

CHICAGO, Illinois - Patrik Laine scored his team-leading 20th of the year late in the third period and had numerous chances overall in the final frame, but the Chicago Blackhawks hung on and beat the Jets 2-1 on Friday night at the United Center.

Thirty-two-year-old rookie Jeff Glass made 31 saves - many of them of the spectacular variety - for his third win of the season and his first victory on home ice, and was clearly the difference on the night for Chicago. Winnipeg falls to 26-12-7 on the season and has dropped three straight to their Central Division rivals going back to last season.

"It was just even. I don't think they were getting to our net for any second or third opportunities," said Head Coach Paul Maurice. "We were in alone a couple of times, had a 3-on-1 that we didn't convert when we needed to. It wasn't an offensive game."

Neither team could get their power plays going and there wasn't a whole lot of room to make things happen, especially for Jets captain Blake Wheeler who saw his seven-game point streak come to an end.

"(We) were being stubborn and not wanting to get the puck behind them," Wheeler said when asked about how the Jets couldn't find a way to get through a clogged neutral zone. "You can play in the offensive zone all day. You want to make plays, but they make it tough."

"We battled well in the third and we never gave up," added Laine, who finished with a team-high five shots on goal. "We got some good scoring chances including myself, but we just couldn't capitilize."

The Blackhawks opened the scoring at 4:51 of the second period after some extended puck possession in the Jets' zone. Connor Murphy threw a shot at the net and David Kampf redirected it, beating Connor Hellebuyck low on the stick side. For Kampf, it was his first NHL goal on his 23rd birthday.

Winnipeg got a golden chance to get back into the game at 10:51 when the Blackhawks got caught with too many men on the ice. A minute into the enusing man advantage, Mathieu Perreault was sent in alone on the breakaway, but Glass closed the pads when the Jets forward shot five hole. Then, at the end of a shift, Kyle Connor had a clean breakaway, but Glass was ready with the right pad to keep the Jets off the scoreboard once again.

The Hawks rewarded their goaltender less than a minute later when Jan Ruuta took a harmless shot from the bottom of the faceoff circle that went under Hellebuyck for a rare soft goal given up by the Jets goaltender, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead. Anthony Duclair recorded an assist on the goal for his first point in his first game as a Blackhawk after coming over in a trade from Arizona earlier in the week.

In the third period, a couple minutes after the Jets had killed off a Perreault hooking penalty, Jack Roslovic set up Andrew Copp in the slot, but Glass was there to kick away the centre's one-timer.

With just over five minutes remaining, Glass was back at it this time with a big time stop on Bryan Little in tight during a Winnipeg power play and moments after that, Laine ripped one off the post on the stick side of the Hawks netminder.

Laine went to the stick side again at 16:19 and his wrist shot beat Glass for his 20th goal of the season and second in as many games to cut the Hawks' lead to one.

Laine had another great chance off a terrific feed from Nikolaj Ehlers with the goalie pulled, but Glass came across and made a spectacular right pad save to keep the Hawks in front. Then, with under 30 seconds to play, Wheeler unloaded from the top of the right circle, but struck the same glove-side post Laine did earlier in the period to seal the one-goal defeat.

"Their guy made a few good saves," Maurice said. "I don't think either goaltender was worked too hard. It was a tight divisional road game.

Jets will finish off their fifth set of back-to-back games on Saturday in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild, closing out a three-game road trip.

LATE HITS: Prior to the game, goaltender Michael Hutchinson was recalled from the Manitoba Moose after it was revealed Steve Mason wasn't fit to dress.

"He got back to the hotel and he wasn't feeling really good at all so we didn't want to take any chances with his past history," Maurice said. "I think he's fine and we'll see on Saturday."

- Jamie Thomas, WinnipegJets.com