Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/vegas-downs-jets-3-2-to-remain-on-top-of-western- conference-472272033.html

Vegas beats Winnipeg with stick Jets livid wasn't overturned after Hellebuyck slashed in head

By: Mike McIntyre

A heavyweight battle of the Western Conference’s top-two teams delivered in spades Thursday night. And while the skated away with a 3-2 victory over the , it was a controversial call earlier in the game — and Winnipeg’s reaction to it — that will surely reverberate all the way to the NHL’s head office.

We take you back to late in second period, with the teams locked in a 1-1 tie and Vegas on the power play. Jets Connor Hellebuyck couldn’t quite squeeze a from the blue-, and the puck sat loose behind him just inches from the goal-line. Vegas James Neal, apparently trying to cash in, took a wild swing with his stick that caught Hellebuyck flush in the head. Neal’s twig broke in half, the blade spinning towards the corner boards as the proverbial smoking gun.

Only there was no call on the play and no whistle. Erik Haula then pounced on the loose puck, knocking it home for the go-ahead tally. Winnipeg protested, and the two referees huddled with the linesman for a few seconds before ruling it a goal.

Jets head coach challenged for goaltender interference. Following a lengthy review, referee Ghislain Hebert ruled the original call stood — even though it was clear as day Neal slashed Hellebuyck in the face with great force.

Maurice was livid on the bench, and more than 15,000 amateur officials at Bell MTS Place voiced their disgust. Obviously, missed penalties can’t be reviewed or overturned. And the NHL clearly felt the infraction wasn’t enough to prevent Hellebuyck from playing the puck that was already in behind him.

"The explanation was that the puck was behind the goalie, which gives their player the right to break his stick over (Hellebuyck’s) head. There’s been an outcry with the league to get this right. We were told before the game that it was going to be a little bit cleaner, they were going to be looking for goalie interference. It’s the first time I’ve seen a guy break a stick over a goalie’s head," said an irate Blake Wheeler, who was only getting started.

"Come on, (he) f——-g breaks a stick over his head. That’s not a goal. I don’t care where the puck is," said Wheeler. "Right before we went over there, I was told that if Connor’s in the crease and he makes contact with him with his stick, it’s no goal. So, I came back to the bench pretty confident that it was going to be no goal. If anything, we should have been on a five- minute power play or something."

Hellebuyck couldn’t believe it, saying he was "dazed" at being hit in the head.

"I think it’s a terrible call. You would think the video replay is there for that reason. I don’t even think their team wanted that goal, obviously they’re going to take it. That’s just dirty," said Hellebuyck. "I can take a stick to the face. But just because I don’t throw my head back and make it obvious, I feel like I got kind of screwed on this. Maybe I should start diving a little bit, that’s just ridiculous."

Over to Maurice, who said teams just got a memo the other day that the NHL would start loosening up the way they called goaltender interference following too many disallowed goals.

"I don’t know how there would be an event that would be more egregious with goaltender interference, just beyond the spirit of the rule," said Maurice. "The idea that a guy could clean a goalie out would be goalie interference, but a two-hand to the head wouldn’t. What are we going to do with our goalies now. The puck’s loose in the crease, so swing away?"

Maurice said the interpretation in Thursday’s game can’t be what the NHL is wanting.

"We can’t have people swinging at our goalies’ heads. You can’t allow that to creep into the game," he said.

Kyle Connor scored with 2:36 left in the third period to tie it and at least salvage a point for the Jets, who are 30-13-9 and remain on top of the Central Division. David Perron delivered the dagger with just over a minute left in overtime, beating Hellebuyck with a wrister. Vegas improves to 34-12-4 and remains on top of the Pacific Division.

Winnipeg had taken a 1-0 lead late in the first period following some good work by the fourth line. Connor dumped the puck in, and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury tried to play it behind his net. Matt Hendricks beat him to it, and passed it in front to linemate Joel Armia, who swept it into the empty net.

Vegas tied it midway through the second period with the Jets on a power play. Wheeler was the lone man back, and he was muscled off the puck and sent flying by Reilly Smith. The speedy Vegas forward then skated in all alone and roofed a shot over Hellebuyck.

Winnipeg’s power play, which came into the game ranked No. 2 in the NHL and No. 1 at home, was a mess not only on that play, but also on the night as they went 0-for-3.

This game was much more of a playoff-style grinder, not the freewheeling track meet that saw the teams trading chances and goals in their previous two meetings this season. Vegas won the first one 5-2, and Winnipeg took the next one 7-4.

In fact, the Jets mustered just four shots in the third period. Fortunately for them, the last one was off Connor’s stick and into the net. The rookie has 17 goals this season and has scored in two straight games.

The overtime was a different story, with both teams trading numerous chances. The Jets did everything but score on two occasions — the puck was lying in the crease with bodies flying everywhere and Haula appeared to make a brilliant save with his backside — and then Hellebuyck stopped Nate Schmidt on a breakaway before Perron ended it.

Winnipeg returns to action Saturday night when they host the in the third game of their season-long 10-game homestand. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/forget-vegas-flu----nhl-teams-sick-of-playing-here- 472281563.html

Forget Vegas flu -- NHL teams sick of playing here

By: Paul Wiecek

In an effort to explain the inexplicable — how a bunch of hockey castoffs came to be the most successful first-year expansion team in North American pro sports history — there has been much discussion recently about a phenomenon known as ‘Vegas Flu.’

Basically, the idea is that NHL teams travelling to Las Vegas to play the Western Conference- leading Golden Knights are getting caught up in the glitz, glamour and temptations of the Vegas Strip and forgetting that they are, after all, supposed to be on a business trip.

The result of this uniquely Vegas affliction? A Golden Knights team with the best home record in the NHL, an eye-popping 19-3-2 in their inaugural season at T-Mobile Arena.

Asked about the phenomenon during all-star weekend, sniper Alex Ovechkin got excited about how exciting it is to play in Vegas.

"I think it’s the atmosphere over there," Ovechkin said. "It’s not a regular rink. It’s kind of like an unbelievable show, you get excited. It’s like you in a nightclub. It’s like a party. Everybody dancing over there. It’s like, ‘Holy Jesus, are we in a hockey game or is this like a pool party out there?’"

So if Vegas flu is the reason the Golden Knights have the best home record in the NHL, is a variation known as ‘Winnipeg flu’ the reason the Jets have the second-best winning percentage at home at 18-3-2?

If so, what would a Winnipeg flu that didn’t include patients lining the hallways of Health Sciences even look like?

Let’s face it: Portage and Main is not exactly the Vegas Strip and this city’s light show begins two weeks before Christmas and ends two days afterward.

Looking for a rush in Winnipeg? There’s a couple of tacky casinos but if you really want to gamble, your best bet is to leave a couple of loonies visible in your change tray and then park your car downtown.

We are not overwhelming visiting hockey teams with our delightful regional theatre scene is what I’m saying.

And yet, a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Knights at Bell MTS Place Thursday night was just the second loss at home for the Jets in the last 16 games — and even that took the divine intervention of a referee who did not judge the attempted decapitation of Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to constitute goaltender interference on Vegas’ go-ahead goal in the second period.

To be fair, it wasn’t goaltender interference so much as it was aggravated assault. But the final result was the same — a rare loss for the Jets at home, made all the more rare by the fact it came in a game in which the Jets had scored first.

The Jets have a 23-1-6 record this season when scoring first and that formula — getting the early lead at home — has been an almost unbeatable recipe for Winnipeg this season.

It’s a recipe that mused last weekend has had more to do with the Jets’ success at home this season than anything the visitors are up to off the ice when they visit Winnipeg.

"They feed off their crowd," the captain said of the Jets during all-star weekend.

"They get off to good starts and feed off their energy. They’ve always had great crowds."

Still, you have to wonder whether there is something to the idea that we are baffling visiting teams with boredom here in Winnipeg in the same way Vegas is titillating visiting teams with, ummm, twinkle?

The seemed to be suggesting as much a couple weeks ago when a couple players went off on Twitter about how much they hate playing in Winnipeg.

As the Sharks described it, Winnipeg is a frozen hellscape with lousy internet. That’s outrageous, of course — our internet is actually pretty good.

"Winnipeg. Dark. Cold. Hotel is a little questionable," offered Sharks Justin Braun. "Internet doesn’t work ever. I don’t know if they have wifi there yet."

"(I)t’s so dark and cold there. I don’t like it there," was how Sharks forward Tomas Hertl summed it up.

You know what — it is dark and cold in Winnipeg. And unless you’re heavily — and permanently — medicated, there’s probably times you don’t much like it here either.

But Winnipeg is also a place not without its charm and at the moment, the most charming thing about it has been the way the local hockey team is handing visitors their asses on a nightly basis.

Disappointment looked especially good this week on the league-leading on Tuesday and we’ll just have to wonder how things might have turned out differently for the Jets against Vegas Thursday night if the small matter of breaking a stick over Hellebuyck’s head wasn’t declared legal for one night only.

Still, you’ve got to give the Knights credit. The strength of this Vegas team — just like the Jets — has been their play at home this season. But they’ve been no slouches either on the road, where the Knights now have a 15-9-2 record.

Put it all together and the stats crunchers over at fivethirtyeight.com have christened the Knights the greatest expansion team of all time in terms of win percentage by a first-year team.

But if Vegas is the most surprising story in hockey this season, the Jets are surely the second- most surprising.

Only a committed optimist — emphasis on the committed — expected these Jets to have a playoff spot all but locked down at the start of February, and yet here we are.

They have used the same formula as Vegas to get here: a dominating home record coupled with better-than-average play on the road (12-10-7).

Hockey is a simple game when you’re playing better than .500 on the road and averaging one loss at home a month.

Is it sustainable? It has been so far.

But look — I’ve lived here as long as you have. This place is a marathon, not a sprint.

We’re a bit dark, a bit bland and a lot cold. But it works for us, more or less.

And if there really is a Winnipeg flu afflicting visiting NHL teams, our weakness might also be our greatest strength. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/jets-taking-the-good-with-the-bad- 472252363.html

Jets take the good with the bad All-star festivities wrap up with a few mixed emotions

By: Scott Campbell

The true stretch drive got underway this week and the Winnipeg Jets got it going with a well- deserved win over the ’s top team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, showing once again why the Jets are legitimately in a battle for top spot in their division, their conference and perhaps the league.

It hasn’t, however, been an easy road for them.

The NHL’s all-star festival last weekend was supposed to be a fun time for players and fans, but Jets disciples had both good and bad news come out of it.

Getting Connor Hellebuyck and Blake Wheeler back home safe was the first order of business and they managed to enjoy their well-deserved trip free of injury.

There was more good news coming. The extra days off had centre returning from the injured list on Tuesday versus the Lightning and he came back with a stellar defensive performance. He joined Andrew Copp and Joel Armia to shut down the line, barely giving them a sniff of the net.

Last weekend also brought reports of No. 1 centre unofficially skating with some teammates on an off day. He’s since joined the regular crew in a non-contact sweater.

Once the all-stars had survived their game on Sunday, we were left with figuring out what head coach Paul Maurice was up to when he decided last week that backup goalie Michael Hutchinson was going to play against Tampa Bay, despite playing the night before in the all-star game.

Maurice said Hellebuyck needed a rest due to his heavy travel schedule and the number of games he had played recently. That his all-star appearance was a day before Hutchinson’s didn’t factor into this.

It was the negative statistics of playing back to back and Hutchinson’s travel schedule from Utica, N.Y., on Tuesday that moved some people to speculate that Hutchinson was being selfish in going to a game where he had earned recognition as being a top goalie in the league.

However, the Jets sanctioned Hutchinson’s trip, sending him down to the so he could play. It may have been done reluctantly, but they agreed.

I believe Hutchinson knew himself better than anyone else did, wanted to succeed and made his decision accordingly.

A huge part of a goaltender’s game is his mental approach and if he thought that having a fun day and playing a relaxed 10 minutes of hockey was going to prepare him properly for the Lightning, it was good enough for me.

It was also suggested he might be mad at the Jets organization for burying him with the Moose until recently. Sorry, even if true, it wouldn’t make him shoot himself in the foot. He’s driven to play in the NHL.

You need to trust the player in these circumstances. I’d be saying the same thing if he had lost the game, I’d just be reporting a different result.

I mentioned earlier there was some bad news from all-star weekend and it hit Jets fans like a truck.

Arguably the Jets’ best defenceman, Jacob Trouba was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain before the Jets returned to the ice after the break. With a six- to eight-week estimate on his recovery time, it was one more challenge for the team.

What was even more frustrating was that he was in absolute beast-mode for the game where he was hurt. His skill set and style stood out against a physical team like the Ducks, who look to bang you into submission.

The big question became whether the Jets should look to for help on the right side to replace him. Let’s look at the Lightning game for hints.

Maurice moved Tyler Myers into Trouba’s spot with . Tucker Poolman drew in beside Ben Chiarot (Dmitry Kulikov is currently out with a concussion). and Toby Enstrom stayed together.

Maurice bumped the ice time of four defencemen and dropped two down from their average over the year.

The biggest jump was Enstrom, who played almost 4½ minutes more, with Morrissey and Myers almost hitting four more.

Byfuglien was just under two minutes higher, but took a couple of penalties. He had a good, impactful game though.

Chiarot was on the ice for two minutes less than normal, while Poolman played three minutes less than his average number.

It was a game where the Jets wanted to prove something and it’s a small sample. Special teams work and the way each game is playing out might change this approach, but it should continue to work against most opponents.

Having the last call on line and defence matchups for the next eight home games in a row will allow Maurice to continue to shelter the third pairing (Chiarot and Poolman).

In December, I wrote about what the Jets needed to do via the trade market to maximize their chances at making a long playoff run. Along the blue line I suggested they look to acquire a quick, left-shot defenceman who moves the puck well.

Even though Trouba shoots right, I still stand by that. You can only try to insure so much and depth on the left side is still a concern.

The Jets should stay the course and look to fill other needs — ones we’ll revisit soon as it becomes clearer on who’s really available and affordable.

Meeting a good, fast team like the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night may accelerate this discussion.

Winnipeg Sun http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/whats-goalie-interference-debate- continues-as-jets-fall-in-ot-to-golden-knights

What’s goalie interference? Debate continues as Jets fall in OT to Golden Knights

By Ken Wiebe

If you thought the debate about goalie interference was going to quiet down after the meetings at the NHL All-Star weekend and the memo sent around to all of the teams, think again.

As was the case going into the discussions, players, coaches and management folks still aren’t clear when goals should count and when they should be disallowed.

Exhibit A occurred with 90 seconds remaining in the second period on Thursday as the Vegas Golden Knights scored the go-ahead goal during a power play in what turned out to be a 3-2 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets.

Golden Knights centre Erik Haula found a loose puck behind Connor Hellebuyck and jammed it home, but as he was doing so forward James Neal broke his stick across the mask of the Jets goalie.

Following a lengthy discussion, the officials ruled that the call on the ice was a goal, conceivably believing the puck was already loose behind Hellebuyck before the slash took place.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice used his coach’s challenge, arguing the play was an example of goalie interference.

But after review, the play on the ice stood and the goal counted – leaving many Jets scratching their heads.

“There’s been an outcry with the league to get this right,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “Well, now it’s bad. It was bad before but come on, he (expletive) breaks a stick over his head. That’s not a goal. I don’t care where the puck is. Right before we went over there, I was told that if Connor’s in the crease and he makes contact with him with his stick, it’s no goal. So, I came back to the bench pretty confident that it was going to be no goal. If anything, we should have been on a five-minute power play or something. That was tough.”

Hellebuyck was incensed when asked for his interpretation of the call.

“What (the ) said is the puck wasn’t covered, it was laying in the crease, so the guy was allowed to take a two-hand smack to my face. I don’t understand it. I think it’s a terrible call,” said Hellebuyck, who finished with 28 saves. “You would think the video replay is there for that reason. I don’t even think their team wanted that goal. Obviously they’re going to take it. That’s just dirty and I don’t put it on them. That’s hockey. I can take a stick to the face. But just because I don’t throw my head back and make it obvious, I feel like I got kind of screwed on this. This is my fourth goal with my helmet, having an issue with it.

“Goal with my helmet off, goal with my buckle off, goal where a guy trampled me. Maybe I should start diving a little bit, that’s just ridiculous.”

Maurice was both confused and concerned by the call.

“I don’t know how there would be an event that would be more egregious with goaltender interference, just beyond the spirit of the rule,” said Maurice. “The idea that a guy could clean a goalie out would be goalie interference, but a two-hand to the head wouldn’t. What are we going to do with our goalies now? The puck’s loose in the crease, so swing away?

“The memo came down they were going to let more go. We can’t have people swinging at our goalie’s heads. You can’t allow that to creep into the game. The whole thing started to protect the goaltenders. I would have thought that one, yeah, okay bumping a goalie might be one thing, rubbing him a little bit, pushing him a little bit, but if you hit him in the head with your stick and break it, we probably don’t want that in our game.”

Aside from the controversy, special teams were a major factor in the contest.

With the Jets holding a 1-0 lead after a first-period gift from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury lost the puck behind the net, allowing Matt Hendricks to get the puck to Joel Armia in front for the tap-in.

A disjointed power play for the Jets turned the tables in favour of the Golden Knights, as Reilly Smith knocked Wheeler off the puck, walked in on a breakaway and buried a high wrister over the glove of Hellebuyck for a shorthanded marker.

Wheeler took full responsibility for the turnover.

“It’s a tough loss. We had that game in control,” said Wheeler. “I made a tough play there to give them one and they took a little bit of momentum from there. But they didn’t spend a lot of time in our zone so it’s kind of a frustrating one to let go away. But it’s a good team over there.”

Kyle Connor evened the score with 2:36 left in regulation time to allow the Jets to bank a point, but after some frantic action in overtime, David Perron won it for the Golden Knights at 3:57.

The Jets, who are 30-13-9 and face the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, had several glorious opportunities to score in extra time, including a blast from defenceman Josh Morrissey that was blocked by Haula.

“We had a couple good chances in overtime, just couldn’t cross the line so it’s frustrating,” said Morrissey. “I don’t know. From my angle, I saw it hit the post. I haven’t seen the video on it yet. I think it came out. Like it hit the post and then sort of came out on the inside, so it’s almost hard to do. So I don’t know how that didn’t stay. It didn’t go in, but it’s frustrating.” http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/jets-find-fourth-line-balance-bolstered- by-spreading-the-wealth

Jets find fourth line: Balance bolstered by spreading the wealth

By Ken Wiebe

It has been an ongoing battle since before the arrival of Paul Maurice for the Winnipeg Jets to find a fourth line that can do more than just try to tread water.

And while there have been plenty of moving parts on the unit this season, it’s safe to say you can call off the search party.

For far too long, the Jets have been top heavy, mostly reliant on the top-six forwards to carry the offensive load.

That’s not to say the Jets aren’t lacking high-end talent – with captain Blake Wheeler residing in the top-10 in NHL scoring and Mark Scheifele right with him before suffering a suspected shoulder injury in late December – but the contributions are coming throughout the lineup.

There’s been plenty of talk about the balance the Jets have throughout the forward group and a big part of that has been the ability to not lean quite as heavily on the top two lines.

“The depth this year is just on another level,” said Jets centre Bryan Little. “It’s so nice when you can roll four lines. Those top-minute guys don’t get worn out come the end of the year. For us, we’re confident, no matter who we put on the ice. And that’s a big thing. We can get goals from whoever is out there too. (Mathieu) Perreault was on the fourth line for a good chunk of the start of the year. That just shows the combinations we can come up with. Guys can play in different roles and that’s a great thing to have.”

The Jets continue a 10-game homestand on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

There have been players coming in and out of the Jets lineup because of injury, but for the most part, the fourth line hasn’t been as sheltered as it has in the past.

No, the even-strength shifts aren’t always plentiful for the fourth line but having all three players on one of the special-teams units has provided a boost in minutes for them.

Right now, the fourth line consists of veteran Matt Hendricks at centre between Kyle Connor and Brandon Tanev.

In Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, both Connor and Tanev eclipsed 10 minutes of ice time, while Hendricks skated 9:17, including 2:09 while shorthanded.

Connor scored his 16th goal of the season, though he was on the ice with the top line and his goal came eight seconds after a penalty expired.

As for Tanev, he didn’t end up with any points, but he drew a pair of penalties, generated a shot on goal, one blocked shot and led the Jets with five hits.

While Connor finds himself on the top power-play unit, Hendricks and Tanev both contribute to a penalty kill that’s given up only one goal during the past five games and has jumped into the top-10 in the NHL and is operating at 82.6 %.

“It’s very important, especially as the season progresses,” said Hendricks. “Coach (Paul Maurice) is going to keep his eye on minutes. It’s important to win hockey games, but we can’t run these guys into the ground every night, so we’ve got to do our part. We want (Maurice) to have confidence, to know he can put us out in the D-zone in any situation, to win a faceoff, get the puck out and things like that.

“It’s not just outplay the other team’s fourth line, but to be able to contribute to special teams. It’s important we can do things outside of just five-on-five hockey.”

It’s vastly different from last season, when the Jets were near the bottom of the NHL on the penalty kill and compounded the issue by being among the leaders in taking minor penalties.

Once the Jets get closer to full health, they’ll be forced to make some difficult decisions when it comes to how they want their lines to look.

But what has become abundantly clear is that they’ve got plenty of options.

“It’s a big part of our team and why we’re doing well,” said Tanev. “Every line has a job (to do) and they do it well.” http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/snapshots-jets-special-teams-on-the- rise

Snapshots: Jets special teams on the rise

By Ken Wiebe

What was a weakness not long ago has become strength.

When it came to the list of priorities going into the season for the Winnipeg Jets, improved special teams was near the top – in the discussion with playing better defensively, getting better goaltending and being more disciplined.

The power play has been near the top of the NHL for the majority of the season, but the penalty kill is quietly on the rise.

The Jets penalty kill started in the bottom third of the NHL, worked its way into the middle and going into Thursday’s action, by allowing just one goal in 17 opportunities over the past five games, it had moved all the way up to ninth spot (at 82.6%).

That’s a massive move up for a unit that was 26th last season (77.5%) and 25th in 2015-16 (78.4%).

“You can get it from bad to good on position, but to get from good into that top third, some anticipation has to come into it,” said Maurice. “We’re built in a way that we can be more successful, with what we’re running now. We were a little passive at the start of the year, but you had to get the basics of the structure down and now you’re seeing some aggressiveness.

“We’ve done a better of defining for our goaltender where we expect the shots to be coming from and in the end, the goalies have been good in the net.”

The Jets changed their structure with 13 games left last season and found some success.

And after a slow start to this season, the Jets have done a better job of taking away cross-ice seam passes for one-timers or relatively open looks.

“It’s getting comfortable in the system. Near the end of last year, we changed the system and did a bit of an overhaul,” said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “There was still a bit of an adjustment early (this season).”

Committing to a new structure has helped, but one of the biggest factors for the improvement circles back to improved goaltending.

Last season, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck had a .859 save % while shorthanded and that number has risen to .913 this season.

“We’ve done a really good job of slowing teams through the neutral zone. Getting into the (offensive) zone, they don’t have a lot of clean entries,” said Lowry. “That seems to bode well when you can frustrate (the opposition) early in a power play. That seems to throw off the whole thing.”

INJURY UPDATES The Jets erred on the side of caution when it comes to defenceman Dmitry Kulikov, but Maurice fully expects him to return to the lineup on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.

Kulikov suffered a concussion when San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl checked him from behind and while he was cleared for contact on Wednesday, the Jets gave him a few extra days to get his conditioning up.

The decision was made easier after the third pairing of Tucker Poolman and Ben Chiarot had a steady showing against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Also on the injury front, Jets goalie Steve Mason skated on his own for the first time since suffering his second concussion of the season on Jan. 12.

“We’ve got a real long kind of curve on this one,” said Maurice. “We’ll run a really light skating day for a number of days before we start pushing any harder.”

That means Mason isn’t expected back anytime soon and Michael Hutchinson is expected to handle the backup role for the foreseeable future.

Speaking of the Avalanche, the team announced they’d be without top centre Nathan MacKinnon for the next two-to-four weeks with an upper-body injury he sustained in Tuesday’s game against the .

MacKinnon is in the discussion for the Hart Trophy after putting up 24 goals and 61 points in 49 games this season for the much-improved Avalanche.

WINNING BREEDS WINNING Many felt it was only a matter of time before the roof would cave in on the Golden Knights’ Cinderella story – especially after needing to go five goalies deep in the first couple of months of the season because of injuries.

But instead of falling back in the pack, the Golden Knights continue to hold onto top spot in both the Western Conference and Pacific Division heading into the stretch run.

For Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant, it all goes back to the old mantra that winning breeds winning, especially for an expansion team.

“When we got out of the gate at 8-1 and the guys were real confident,” Gallant said after the morning skate. “Then, the confidence grew every time we won a game. The first nine games were a big reason why things are going so well for us right now.”

As for the early season narrative that the Golden Knights were a bunch of castoffs, think again.

“They have the depth. That’s one benefit they got to the expansion draft,” said Lowry. “They might not have had the marquee names coming to their team, but they got a lot of solid second and third line players they can sprinkle through their lineup. A lot of these guys just needed the chance to prove that they were more than that and they’re taking that opportunity and really running with it.”

Canadian Press https://www.chrisd.ca/2018/02/01/perrons-ot-goal-lifts-golden-knights-jets-vegas-sets- expansion-team-record/#.WnSQQKinGuU

Jets; Vegas Sets Expansion Team Record

By Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

WINNIPEG – Gerard Gallant downplayed the achievement his upstart Vegas Golden Knights reached with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

It was the Golden Knights’ 34th win, passing both the 1993-94 and then- Anaheim Mighty Ducks for most wins in an NHL season by a first-year expansion team.

“It doesn’t mean a whole lot right now to be honest with you,” said Gallant, who’s coached his club to a Western Conference-leading 34-12-4 record, one point back of league-best Tampa Bay.

“We’re just trying to battle and get two points again every night and that’s what we’re trying to do. But you know, at the end of the season we’ll look at it and be happy I’m sure.”

David Perron scored 3:57 into overtime after Winnipeg Kyle Connor had tied the game with a high shot to Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove side with 2:36 left in the third period.

The Jets had the puck rolling in the crease three times in overtime, but Winnipeg couldn’t get it over the line. Perron then fired a high shot past goalie Connor Hellebuyck to win the game.

“That’s (Fleury) for you right there. He loves those kinds of moments,” Perron said of the overtime scramble. “I don’t know how the puck stayed out, but he found a way to keep it out.”

Fleury stopped 26 shots. It was his 389th career win, putting him into a tie for 13th among NHL goaltenders.

Joel Armia had a goal and one assist for Winnipeg.

Hellebuyck made 28 saves for the Jets (30-13-9), who were trying to set a franchise-record eighth straight home win.

Reilly Smith had a short-handed goal and Erik Haula scored a controversial 2-1 go-ahead goal on the power play for Vegas with 1:30 left in the second period.

Golden Knights forward James Neal was in front of Winnipeg’s net and broke his stick with a swing to Hellebuyck’s mask. The puck was under the goalie and Haula reached in with his stick from the other side of the crease and knocked it in.

Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice challenged for goaltender interference, but a review upheld the goal and the NHL situation room released an explanation stating no infraction had occurred.

“What (the official) said is the puck wasn’t covered, it was laying in the crease, so the guy was allowed to take a two-hand smack to my face,” Hellebuyck said. “I don’t understand it. I think it’s a terrible call. You would think the video replay is there for that reason.”

It had Jets captain Blake Wheeler frustrated, too.

“The explanation was that the puck was behind the goalie, which gives their player the right to break his stick over (Hellebuyck’s) head,” Wheeler said. “There’s been an outcry with the league to get this right. We were told before the game that it was going to be a little bit cleaner, they were going to be looking for goalie interference. It’s the first time I’ve seen a guy break a stick over a goalie’s head.”

Maurice also questioned the explanation.

“I don’t know how there would be an event that would be more egregious with goaltender interference, just beyond the spirit of the rule,” Maurice said. “The idea that a guy could clean a goalie out would be goalie interference, but a two-hand to the head wouldn’t. What are we going to do with our goalies now? The puck’s loose in the crease, so swing away?”

Winnipeg led 1-0 after the first period, thanks to a gaffe by Fleury.

The veteran goalie went behind the net to get the puck, but Jets forward Matt Hendricks stole it and passed it out to Armia, who was in front of the empty net to score his 10th of the season.

Smith’s tying goal came after he stole the puck from Wheeler inside Winnipeg’s blue line and beat Hellebuyck with a high shot on the breakaway at 12:10.

Haula’s goal extended his point streak to seven games, with four goals and five assists. Perron also had an assist, which gave him a seven-game point roll with four goals and six helpers.

The Jets continue their 10-game homestand with the third game Saturday against Colorado. The Golden Knights play their third game of a six-game road trip Friday in Minnesota.

NHL.com https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-recap/c-295532682

Golden Knights defeat Jets for record-breaking 34th win Perron's overtime goal gives Vegas most victories in inaugural season by NHL team by Scott Billeck / NHL.com Correspondent

WINNIPEG -- The Vegas Golden Knights set a record for most wins by an NHL team in its inaugural season with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place on Thursday.

David Perron scored with 1:03 remaining to give Vegas its 34th win, eclipsing the previous mark set by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (33-46-5) and the Florida Panthers (33-34-17) in 1993-94, when NHL games still could end in a tie.

Nine of Vegas' wins have come in overtime or the shootout.

"It's fun," said Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 26 saves. "We're not talking about breaking records and reaching records; we're just focusing on improving as a team, playing well as a team every night, trying to be as consistent as a team and good things like this will happen.

"I'm proud and happy to see where our team is at right now."

Reilly Smith and Erik Haula also scored for the Golden Knights (34-12-4), who twice cleared the puck out of their crease in overtime.

"It's great," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. "It doesn't mean a whole lot right now, to be honest with you. We're just trying to battle and get two points each night. At the end of the season and we'll look at it and be happy, I'm sure."

Kyle Connor scored for the Jets with 2:36 remaining in the third period to tie the game 2-2.

"They put a lot of pressure on us and obviously they tied the game and we didn't know how we'd respond," Perron said. "But that's a big two points for us."

Joel Armia also scored for the Jets (30-13-9), who lost for the second time in their past 16 home games. Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves.

Armia made it 1-0 with his 10th of the season at 15:10 of the first period. Fleury mishandled a puck behind the net, allowing Matt Hendricks to pass in front to Armia, who had an open net.

Smith tied it 1-1 with a shorthanded goal at 12:10 of the second period. The Jets couldn't clear the puck out of their zone and Blake Wheeler fell over at his own blue line while handling the puck, allowing Smith to take the puck in alone on Hellebuyck.

"It's a tough loss," Wheeler said. "We had that game in control. I made a tough play there to give them one and they took a little bit of momentum from there. But they didn't spend a lot of time in our zone, so it's kind of a frustrating one to let go away. But it's a good team over there."

Haula gave Vegas a 2-1 lead on the power play at 18:30. Hellebuyck made the initial save on a point shot from Perron, but the puck fell behind him and Haula tapped it in.

Jets coach Paul Maurice challenged for goalie interference after James Neal appeared to slash Hellebuyck, but video review confirmed the goal.

Goal of the game Perron's goal at 3:57 of overtime.

Save of the game Haula's save in the crease behind Fleury at 2:52 of overtime.

Highlight of the game Smith's goal at 12:10 of the second period.

They said it "We weren't great. We found a way. We know we're playing a good team that plays a physical game. Like I said, I don't think we were great and we didn't play one of our better games, but again we found a way." -- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant

"I thought we played a pretty solid third period. It took us a while to get that goal, but a huge goal by [Connor] for us. Another big point, but frustrating with some of the chances in overtime that we couldn't get the two points." -- Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey

Need to know Perron has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past seven games and 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in his past 16 games. … Jets forward Adam Lowry left the game in the third period and did not return. There was no update following the game.

What's next Golden Knights: At the on Friday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV) Jets: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN, ALT, NHL.TV)

Las Vegas Review Journal https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/golden-knights-set-nhl-record-for- expansion-team-with-34th-win/

Golden Knights set NHL record for expansion team with 34th win

By Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Florida Panthers have a banner extolling the accomplishment of having a record 33 wins by an NHL expansion franchise.

That banner was rendered irrelevant thanks to the Golden Knights, who made hockey history Thursday with their 34th win as David Perron’s goal with 1:03 left in overtime beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 at Bell MTS Place.

In the 1993-94 season, the Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim each won 33 times in 84 league games. The Knights (34-12-4, 72 points) won No. 34 in 50 games.

“It’s great,” coach Gerard Gallant said of the milestone. “But it doesn’t mean a whole lot right now to be honest with you. We’re just trying to battle to get two points every night. But at the end of the season we’ll look back on it and be happy.”

Perron, whose game-winner was his 13th goal, also assisted on Erik Haula’s second-period power-play goal. He said it’s better to wait until the end of the season and see what you accomplished before celebrating.

“Once we got to 30 wins, we knew we were going to get there,” he said of the record. “But it’s important that we keep looking at things day-to-day and keep trying to get better.”

The Knights were trying to hold on when Kyle Connor scored with 2:36 left to pull the Jets even 2-2 and get the crowd of 15,321 back into it. Winnipeg had four great opportunities to win it in overtime but Marc-Andre Fleury scrambled and dived to keep the puck out.

“It got a little hectic there,” said Fleury, who was knocked down during a scramble after Josh Morrissey’s shot teetered in the crease but was cleared by his teammates. “Guys were flying everywhere. But I love it and I was happy when David scored.”

Winnipeg took a 1-0 lead after Fleury misplayed the puck behind his net and Matt Hendricks pounced on it and passed to Joel Armia, who deposited it into a wide-open net 15:10 into the game.

“I should have moved it along quicker,” said Fleury, who made 24 saves for his 14th win of the year. “I waited too long.”

Reilly Smith tied the score at 12:10 in the second period with a short-handed goal. He checked Blake Wheeler off the puck in the Winnipeg zone, walked in and beat Connor Hellebuyck for his 14th goal as Colin Miller was in the penalty box for holding. It was the second straight game Smith had scored after going goal-less in his previous six.

Haula’s power-play goal with 1:30 remaining in the second period was challenged by the Jets. They claimed goaltender interference by James Neal as Haula put the loose puck past Hellebuyck. But the goal, Haula’s 19th, stood after review. It marked the fourth straight game in which Haula has scored.

The play didn’t sit well with Jets coach Paul Maurice.

“The goaltender interference rule covers anything that goes on,” he said. “We can’t have people swinging their sticks at goaltenders’ heads. You can’t have that in the game.”

Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots. But he couldn’t get to Perron’s wrist shot in OT, which made franchise history and gave the Knights a 2-0 start on a six-game road trip.

“Right now, we’re pretty good and we’re finding ways to win,” said forward Jonathan Marchessault. “We just think of the next battle, and we just have to keep going.”

Three takeaways 1. Special teams excel. The Knights scored a power-play goal for the fifth straight game and killed off all three penalties against the NHL’s second-best power play Thursday. “If your special teams are playing well, you’re probably going to win a lot of hockey games,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. His team’s special teams are indeed playing well right now.

2. Top guns silent. The Jets’ top scorers Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine were held off the scoresheet as the Knights did a good job of working to keep them from dominating. The duo were limited to just three shots combined.

3. Heavy game. There were 45 hits registered by the two teams and a lot of big hits from both sides throughout. The Knights wound up taking the regular season series, 2-1, and if these teams were to meet in the playoffs, it would be a heck of a series. They’re evenly matched and it would make for some compelling hockey.

Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal

TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINKS) https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/mckenzie-refs-clearly-missed-penalty-in-jets-knights- game-1.986554

McKenzie: Refs clearly missed penalty in Jets/Knights game

TSN's Bob McKenzie joined the Big Show following the Jets game against Vegas to break down the controversial goal call on James Neal's slash to Connor Hellebuyck, how the NHL can fix their goalie interference review and who other teams are targeting in trade talks with Winnipeg. https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/cullen-jets-needed-goaltending-to-be-a-contender- 1.985610

Cullen: Jets needed goaltending to be a contender

TSN's Scott Cullen joined host Kevin Olszewski to break down the numbers on the Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets and other stories around the NHL. www.winnipegjets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-tie-the-game-late-but-fall-in-overtime-to-vegas-on-home- ice/c-295538872 (INTERVIEWS INCLUDED)

Jets tie the game late, but fall in overtime to Vegas on home ice Unsuccessful goaltender interference challenge leaves bitter taste in Jets' dressing room by Mitchell Clinton @MitchellClinton / WinnipegJets.com

WINNIPEG - For the sixth straight game, the Winnipeg Jets left the rink with at least a point. However, a bitter taste was all that was left inside the team's dressing room after falling 3-2 in overtime to the Western Conference leading Vegas Golden Knights.

The reason for that bitterness centers around Vegas' second goal, which at the time, gave the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead.

With Tyler Myers in the box for interference, Haula slid home a loose puck in the crease following a shot on goal from Colin Miller.

The Jets challenged the play, as James Neal slashed Hellebuyck on the lower part of his mask - breaking the stick in two - just as Haula reached for the loose puck. But the call on the ice would stand, leaving the Golden Knights with a one-goal lead after two periods.

"I can't understand how that event wouldn't be goaltender interference," said head coach Paul Maurice. "We're not allowed to kick at the puck in a pendulum motion because it's a dangerous idea. But a swing to the head on your goaltender, somehow it didn't affect his ability to stop the puck."

Joel Armia and Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, who gain a single point, and improve their record to 30-13-9.

"It was a good hockey game though," said Matt Hendricks, who finished with one assist in 10:53 of ice time. "You're never happy losing. There was a lot of mental fortitude in the way we battled back… the atmosphere was great, our fans were great. That's as close to playoff hockey as you can get in my opinion."

Hendricks factored in on the opening goal of the game. His hard forecheck pressure on Marc- Andre Fleury - who had come out of the net to play the Connor dump in. Hendricks stole the puck and quickly slid it out front to Armia, who had an empty net to bury his tenth of the season.

But the play all began back in the Jets defensive zone, when Josh Morrissey got the better of on a 1-on-1, and after retrieving the puck in the corner, fed a perfect outlet pass to hit Connor in stride leaving the zone.

"I don't think he thought I was going to beat him to it," said Hendricks. "I got a lucky bounce and it got on my stick, and (Armia) was all alone in front."

It stayed that way until the just over 12 minutes into the second, when the Jets turned the puck over at their blue line while trying to break out on the power play. When Wheeler lost his balance and fell, Reilly Smith took advantage, breaking in on Connor Hellebuyck all alone, and beating the Jets All-Star goaltender over the glove.

It was the fourth shorthanded goal the Jets had given up this season.

"It's a tough loss. We had that game in control. I made a tough play there to gift them one, and they took a little bit of momentum from there," said Wheeler. "We didn't spend a whole lot of time in our zone. So it's a frustrating one to let go away, but it's a good team over there."

Haula's goal came 6:20 later, and the ruling left the 24-year-old Hellebuyck stunned.

"What he said was 'the puck wasn't covered,'" said Hellebuyck.

"I don't put that on (Vegas), that's hockey. I can take a stick to the face. But just because I don't throw my head back and make it obvious, I feel I kind of get screwed on it.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to find a puck when I'm getting a stick across the jaw."

One of the things the Jets had worked on all season was responding to adversity, and that's exactly what the team was facing heading into the third.

It took 17:24, but their persistence paid off.

Connor would tie the game with his 17th of the season, when his wrist shot was deflected on its way to the Vegas net, and when it got by Fleury, Bell MTS Place erupted.

"He's gone from Wheeler's line to Hendricks' line and played really well," Maurice said of Connor. "I've liked his game. He's starting to get back to the form he had maybe eight or nine games ago. It was good. He played well."

The Jets had two glorious chances in overtime, as the puck was inches from the goal line on two mad scrambles around the Vegas crease.

Those missed opportunities came back to haunt Winnipeg, as David Perron's wrist shot from the high slot beat Hellebuyck stick side, giving the visitors the 3-2 overtime win.

The Jets are now 3-0-3 in their last six, and have three of a possible four points so far on the 10- game home stand. Next on the schedule is a divisional tilt with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.