By Canadian Press

Hellebuyck helps Jets beat the Blues 4-2

Oct 24, 2023 | 9:49 PM

WINNIPEG — For the second straight game, Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head to backstop the Jets to a 4-2 NHL victory over the St. Blues on Tuesday night. 

Hellebuyck stopped 18 of 20 shots, including two clearcut breakaways, for Winnipeg (3-3-0) at Canada Life Centre.  

Kyle Connor, Mason Appleton, David Gustafsson and Morgan Barron (into an empty net) scored for the winners.

Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich replied for St. Louis. 

It was the Jets first game without head coach Rick Bowness, who took a leave of absence after his wife, Judy, suffered a seizure on Sunday. She has since been sent home.

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Netminder Jordan Binnington made 26 saves on 29 shots for St. Louis (2-2-1) 

Thomas had pulled St. Louis to within 3-2 with Binnington pulled for an extra attacker with 3:33 left in the game. Buchnevich assisted. But Barron salted the game away on set-up from centre Mark Scheifele. 

Connor had given the Jets a 3-1 lead early in the third period. Defenceman Nate Schmidt kept the puck in along the boards, then fed Connor, who deked around a defenceman, then fired a shot over Binnington’s shoulder. 

The Blues pulled to within 2-1 with a power-play goal late in the middle frame. With defenceman Dylan Samberg off for high-sticking, Buchnevich deflected a shot from Brayden Schenn past Hellebuyck, Centre Jordan Kyrou also assisted on the Blues first power-play goal of the year.  

The Jets had opened the scoring with a pair of goals just 18 seconds apart early in the second period. Gustafsson unleashed a one-timer past Binnington on a set from forward Cole Perfetti from behind the net. Defenceman Dylan DeMelo also assisted. 

Appleton increased the score to 2-0 just 18 seconds later. Appleton also snapped a shot past Binnington on a pass from centre Adam Lowry from behind the net. Defenceman Neal Pionk also assisted. 

Hellebuyck stopped Kyrou on two clearcut breakaways in the second period. 

Binnington also stopped Lowry on a short-handed breakaway. 

Both goalies were superb during a scoreless first period. Early in the opening frame, Binnington stopped a backhand by Winnipeg forward Nino Niederreiter, who was alone in front.

Hellebuyck made a great stop on Blues winger Kasperi Kappenen, who got to his doorstep on a 2-on-1 late in the first. Earlier, Hellebuyck made an outstanding save on forward Brandon Saad, who attempted to convert Kyrou’s rebound into the open side of the net. Hellebuyck also stopped a dangerous shot from winger Jake Neighbours from the faceoff circle. 

NOTES 

During the first period, the Jets announced that Judy Bowness, Rick’s wife, is home from the hospital and resting. … Winnipeg centre Mark Scheifele was riding a five-game point streak heading into Tuesday’s game. It was the first time he had ever started a season with a five-game point streak. The Jets record is eight games (Blake Wheeler). … Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey had five assists heading into the game, which had tied him for first among NHL defencemen. … Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers needed just two points to reach 400 in his career. … Former Winnipeg Jets captain Keith Tkachuk was one of three players recently named to the Blues Hall of Fame.

UP NEXT 

The Jets head to Detroit to play the Red Wings on Thursday night, while the Blues travel to Calgary to face the Flames the same night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.

Jim Bender, The Canadian Press