Jets outlast Kings to win 2-1 in OT but lose Laine

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/03/2018 (2240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rookie forward Kyle Connor sparked the Winnipeg Jets to a franchise-best 44th victory Tuesday night, but the celebration was tempered by an injury to Patrik Laine, the NHL club’s top goal scorer.

After the game, all signs pointed to a positive prognosis.

Connor scored both goals for Winnipeg, including the winner in overtime, as the Jets defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 at Bell MTS Place to improve to 3-0 on the six-game homestand.

The Central Division squad (44-19-10) moved eight points up on the Minnesota Wild for second in the division.

The Jets lost Laine, their young scoring machine, to a lower-body injury early in the second period. The sophomore winger was struck in a leg by a low bullet drive from L.A. defenceman Alec Martinez.

Laine, who has 43 goals this season and trails only Alex Ovechkin (44), struggled to reach the bench and needed help making his way to the dressing room. He did not return to the game.

In his post-game chat, Jets head coach Paul Maurice said the injury is not considered serious. “We think he’s going to be fine. We don’t think it’s anything long term,” he said.

Asked where the teen took the shot, Maurice didn’t miss a beat with a one-liner. “It’s a concussion,” he said, to laughs. Indeed, the Jets have had more than their fair share of those this season. “I don’t think after the amputation it should be much longer than a month.”

Then Maurice paused and added, “That’s insensitive to people who are dealing with that. We’ll see how it comes in, but we’ve already had him looked in a couple of different ways, there’s nothing sinister.”

The 19-year-old Finnish product had his 15-game point-scoring streak halted. He had 18 goals and eight assists during the streak that began Feb. 16 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Connor, meanwhile, stole the show with a couple of beauty markers, including the clincher. He took a pass from centre Bryan Little and whipped a wrist shot by Kings’ goalie Jack Campbell at 1:37 of the extra period.

He now has 27 goals and trails Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks by just two for the NHL rookie scoring lead. Boeser is out with an injury.

Connor said he shook off a check and took advantage of a golden opportunity.

“We were trying to get some crossing done in the (offensive) zone and I think I lost my man a bit,” he said. “Once I got (the puck) I just tried to get it off quick. I found that hole right there.

The speedy former University of Michigan star said he’s appreciative of the faith Maurice is showing in utilizing him in pressure situations.

“It’s nice to have the coach have confidence in you… to be able to go out there and try to make something happen and get a chance for the game-winner,” he said.

The point was a slight help to the Kings (40-27-7), in a fight for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings opened the scoring with the game half over. Dustin Byfuglien’s whiff on a pinch at centre ice sprung Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar on a two-on-one break. Tyler Myers sprawled to take away Kopitar’s pass but Brown made good on the tap-in for his 23rd tally of the year — his best output in seven seasons — at 8:42 of the second period.

Then, with just 1:54 left in the period, Connor tied the game, redirecting a hard, low pass to the slot by Mark Scheifele.

Eric Comrie, the Manitoba Moose netminder up with the Jets due to injuries and who was making just his second NHL start of the season and third of his career, stopped 16 shots for his second win. He found a rhythm early, drifting out to successfully challenge Andy Andreoff and Alex Iafallo on early chances.

“It was really exciting and a big two points for us…,” said Comrie. “You know what, I felt pretty comfortable today. I tried to play it like (it was) Ontario Reign and Manitoba Moose. That’s the way I played it today and that’s the way it felt. I’m very familiar with this building and it was pretty easy.”

He wasn’t tested often but produced a couple of key stops in the second period and got some help when Jeff Carter misfired on an open net.

The Kings have an affinity for scoring in the third period, however, the gas tanks were bone dry by the final frame. L.A. whipped just two shots at Comrie in the final 20 minutes.

Tyler Toffoli produced the Kings’ best scoring chance of the extra period, nailing the iron behind Comrie.

“I saw it hit the post and I ducked out of the way and I was like, ‘Thank God it didn’t go in,’” said the 22-year-old netminder.

The move to start Comrie was all about giving No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck rest with only nine regular-season games left to play before the playoffs. Hellebuyck had started six straight and 18 of the last 20.

Winnipeg got the result it deserved, outskating and outchancing a fatigued L.A. crew that played the night before in St. Paul, Minn., rallying to defeat the Wild 4-3 on the strength of Carter’s overtime tally.

“We tried to make simple, fast plays. They played (Monday) night, so I thought we got better as the game went on,” said Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler. “They probably got tired. We just stuck with it and found a way.”

The Jets carried the play, aided by four straight man-advantage opportunities, and pumped 38 shots at Campbell, who was making the fourth start of his NHL career. 

His finest work came with time winding down in regulation. He flashed the glove on a point-blank shot from Paul Stastny with 90 seconds left, made a blocker save off Connor with 46 seconds left and then stopped Little with 12 seconds remaining to force OT.

The Anaheim Ducks, the only playoff foes the Jets have ever known, stop by Bell MTS Place on Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell