By Canadian Press

Scheifele’s SO goal caps Jets’ rally past Rangers

Dec 2, 2018 | 7:30 PM

NEW YORK — The Winnipeg Jets knew it was only a matter of time until their relentless offensive would eventually break through and overcome a three-goal deficit.

Mark Scheifele scored to start Winnipeg’s third-period comeback and then got the deciding goal in the shootout as the Jets rallied to beat the New York Rangers 4-3 Sunday night.

“We know we got a lot of skill,” Scheifele said. “We know we can put three goals in a period.”

Jack Roslovic and Bryan Little also scored in the third as the Jets erased a 3-0 deficit and won their third straight. Jacob Trouba had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 16 shots.

“I don’t think we felt like we were out of the game,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “They got a pretty good guy in between the pipes. Our mindset going into the third was just try to throw everything at him (Lundqvist). See if we can squeak one by him and get a little momentum.”

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Marc Staal had a goal and an assist, and Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast also scored for New York. Henrik Lundqvist made 39 saves through overtime as the Rangers lost for the fourth time in five games. New York also lost in a shootout for the first time this season after starting 4-0 in tiebreakers.

“They owned us, we tried to survive for two periods. They just kept coming,” Lundqvist said. “When a game is played like that you know they are going to have enough looks to come back. … But I felt like they were the better team, no question.”

Mika Zibanejad, who had two assists, scored in the second round of the shootout for the Rangers, and Laine then tied it. After Hellebuyck forced Jimmy Vesey wide, Scheifele — who got the game-winner in overtime at New Jersey on Saturday — beat Lundqvist for the win.

“Our goalie was outstanding from the drop of the puck,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “That is one heck of a hockey team. Probably the best team we have seen all year.”

Winnipeg trailed 3-0 after two periods before Scheifele and Roslovic each scored in the first 4:36 of the third period to pull the Jets within one. Scheifele extended his point streak to five games and has registered five goals and four assists during that stretch.

“Wheeler is probably the best passer in the league,” Scheifele said after Wheeler delivered a perfectly placed backhand pass to set up Winnipeg’s first goal. “He is a special player. I am pretty lucky to have him dish me the puck.”

Little tied it with 2:30 left in regulation when he buried a long-rebound opportunity. Nikolaj Ehlers fired a hard slap shot that caromed off the pads of Lundqvist right to Little’s stick.

Fast opened the scoring late in the first period after executing a give-and-go to perfection with Zibanejad with 2:28 left. Zibanejad exited the penalty box after the Rangers successfully killed off three opening-period penalties and led an odd man rush opportunity. Neal Pionk skated hard toward the net which opened up a passing lane for Zibanejad to find Fast cutting to the back post.

Winnipeg outshot New York 11-4 but trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Staal doubled the Rangers’ lead when his sharp-angle wrist shot beat Hellebuyck with 7:49 left in the middle period. Kreider made it 3-0 when he redirected Zibanejad’s shot with 1:06 left.

NOTES: The Rangers held a pregame ceremony to retire Vic Hadfield’s No. 11. The physical winger was the first skater in franchise history to become a 50-goal-scorer in the 1971-72 season. He was also a part of the famed GAG Line for goal a game, playing alongside Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle. Hadfield played 841 games, registering 262 goals and 310 assists for 572 points for the Rangers throughout 13 seasons. … F Matt Beleskey made his season debut after being recalled from Hartford of the AHL on Saturday. F Tim Gettinger was semt down to the Wolf Pack before the game. The 20-year-old forward played in the team’s previous four games. … Staal skated in his 798th career NHL game with the Rangers, passing Dan Girardi for sole possession of ninth place on the franchise list. … Rangers scratched D Brady Skjei. … Winnipeg scratched forwards Brendan Lemieux and Nic Petan, and defenceman Nelson Nogier.

UP NEXT

Rangers: At Florida on Saturday.

Jets: At the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Scott Charles, The Associated Press