Demko and Canucks shut out Jets
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Thatcher Demko stopped 27 shots for his first career shutout as the Vancouver Canucks scored three goals in the first period and beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-0 Monday night.
Nate Schmidt, J.T. Miller and Nils Hoglander scored early to help the Canucks end a four losing streak (0-31). Elias Pettersson added an empty-netter.
Connor Hellebuyck had 15 saves for Winnipeg, which snapped a four-game winning streak,
The teams finish their two-game series Tuesday night in Winnipeg.
After being held to one shot on goal over the first eight-plus minutes, Schmidt sent a fluttering shot from the high slot past a screened Hellebuyck at 8:28 of the first.
A similar play just 18 seconds later doubled Vancouver’s lead. This time Schmidt’s point shot was redirected by Miller.
Vancouver’s second power-play unit used the same formula to extend the lead at 14:50. Tyler Myers sent a wrist shot from inside the blue line that Hoglander tipped to make it 3-0.
Demko, meanwhile, was steady if unspectacular in the Vancouver net, giving up few rebounds and coming through when needed.
The Jets, who fell to 8-4-1 at home, seemed more inspired in the second period but had difficulty delivering any sustained pressure.
Winnipeg pressed at times in the third. Mark Scheifele had two decent chances midway through the period and Blake Wheeler was denied after a crafty deflection on a shot by Sami Niku.
The Jets pulled Hellebuyck with over five minutes left in regulation. Winnipeg hit the post on a deflected shot but Pettersson put the game away at 16:26.
The Canucks had 19 shots on goal and improved to 4-8-0 on the road.