*Photo from the Norman Transcript*
Facing their rivals from two Canadian provinces to the west, the Winnipeg Jets were looking to cap off their homestand the right way. Nikolaj Ehlers scored, Mark Scheifele scored, and the Jets defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Tuesday night.
The Jets wrap up their homestand with a 5-1-1 record, moving to 9-3-3 to begin the season, giving Winnipeg first place in the Central Division. It was the efforts of Ehlers and Scheifele, who netted goals, combined with a two assist night for defenseman Josh Morrissey, that kept the potent Oilers offense at bay, allowing the Jets to grab their 5th win in 7 games.
Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois said of the game that "We did a really good job defending as unit of five. At times, you're going to have to stay behind even if you want to go out from for a little more offence and they're going to have shifts where they have the puck for a minute in your zone and the only opportunity you're going to get is off a mistake and you have to take advantage of it off the rush."
The only goal of the first period came from Adam Lowry, who scored 2:09 into the game, giving the Jets a 1-0 lead on his second goal of the season. 6:59 into the second period, Ehlers tallied his 4th goal of the season, making it 2-0 Jets on assists by Andrew Copp and Morrissey. Dubois scored on the power play 10:01 into the period to increase the lead to 3-0, followed by Scheifele scoring his second goal of the season with just 38 seconds left in the second, making it 4-0 Jets.
In the 3rd period, Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl got on the board, scoring on the power play 2:32 into the period, making it 4-1 on his 16th goal of the season. Given another power play right after, Draisaitl scored again 3:48 into the 3rd, cutting the deficit to 4-2. With 1:37, Kyle Connor sealed the win for the Jets, continuing his point streak with an empty net goal to make it 5-2.
Connor Hellebuyck was in the goal crease for the Jets, getting the win, continuing a hot streak that has Hellebuyck 6-0-3 in his last 9 starts. Hellebuyck turned aside 32 of the 34 shots he faced from the Oilers, posting a .941 save percentage to improve his season total to .914 in 11 starts. His record improved to 6-2-3 to begin the season.
Hellebuyck said of the win that "I think we really controlled all three ends. We didn't search for more. I think the third, we let off the gas just a little bit, or they pushed hard because they're a good team, one of the two. I thought, as a team and as a whole, we got back into our details and didn't let them having anything they shouldn't get."
Mikko Koskinen made another start for the Oilers with Mike Smith still injured, taking the loss in a hard fought night. Koskinen saved 22 of 26 shots he faced from the Jets, posting a .846 save percentage in the loss. His record fell to 9-2-0 in 11 games and 10 starts this season.
Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said of the 3 goal defeat that "You get down 4-0, that's a hard game to chase. I mean, let's be honest. We got a couple power-play goals to get us back around it, but just not enough juice through our group right now. We've got to get home and get a day of rest."
The Jets and Oilers will see each other again on Thursday night in Edmonton, with Koskinen and Hellebuyck likely to be the starting goalies once again.
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