Jets’ Hellebuyck shuts out Knights, Devils defeat Blues
>> WINNIPEG: Connor Hellebuyck worked his league-leading sixth shut-out, Kyle Connor netted his team-high 36th tally in Winnipeg’s three-goal first period and the Jets beat the visiting Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 on Friday.
Hellebuyck stopped all 29 shots in his fourth straight start (3-1-0), authoring his 20th career shut-out and moving to 17-11-3 at home.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored his 24th goal in the game’s first minute, and Patrik Laine notched his 27th and added an assist as the Jets built a 3-0 lead in the opening period of the second meeting between the teams.
Mathieu Perreault potted a goal in his return from a threegame absence because of injury, with Ehlers chipping in an assist for a two-point night for the Jets, who won for the third time in four games and are 10-5-2 since Feb 1.
Cory Schneider made 31 saves as New Jersey beat visiting St Louis 4-2 for the first time in six years in Newark, New Jersey.
The Devils won their fifth straight home game, while snapping the Blues’ eight-game winning streak. New Jersey earned their first victory over the Blues since Jan 21, 2014.
Schneider is 3-0-1 with just six goals allowed in four games since returning from the AHL. The Devils supported him with goals from Jesper Bratt, Dakota Mermis, Connor Carrick and Joey Anderson. Vince Dunn and Jaden Schwartz scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington made 28 saves.
Zack MacEwen scored twice, JT Miller and Antoine Roussel each had a goal and an assist, and hosts Vancouver beat Colorado 6-3.
Tanner Pearson and Troy Stecher also scored for the Canucks. Thatcher Demko made 29 saves to help Vancouver end a four-game skid.