ARIZONA COYOTES
UPDATED: MARCH 21, 2023 AT 8:35 PM
The spotlight shines on Lawson Crouse #67 of the Arizona Coyotes after he scored a goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Mullett Arena on March 16, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Connor Hellebuyck stopped 29 shots to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a needed 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday night.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Adam Lowry scored for the Jets, who won for the second time in five games. Hellebuyck recorded his 31st win in his 55th start of the season.
Barrett Hayton scored one goal and Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves as Arizona went on a four-game win streak and eight-game points streak (6-0-2).
Ehlers gave the Jets a rare first goal when he stole the puck after a poor pass attempt in Arizona, running in alone on Vejmelka and smashing in his own rebound at 4:17 of the first period.
The Jets came after giving up the first goal in five straight games and nine of their previous 10.
Lowry made it 2-0 with a goal short-handed in a 2-on-1 with Morgan Barron with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the first game.
Hellebuyck made a big save early in the second game, which was loudly cheered by the crowd at Canada Life Centre.
After Nick Schmaltz shot the post, the puck was in the front of the game. Michael Kesselring then sent a backhand shot straight into the net, but Hellebuyck stretched his stick across the ice from the side of the crease and directed the puck away.
Hayton scored his 15th from a rebound at 8:14 in the middle half to draw the Coyotes 2-1. He extended his points streak to eight games (five goals, eight assists).
Winnipeg was shot wide 18-3 in the second game and went without a shot until the final 16-14 of the period.
The Jets had two power plays close together early in the third game, including a four-minute lead when Arizona’s Liam O’Brien received a double minor for high-sticking Winnipeg forward Vladislav Namestnikov in the face, but they couldn’t extend their lead.
Winnipeg finished the third period on the power play, ending 0-6. Arizona was 0-3.
KELLER KEEPS COOKING
Clayton Keller, the Coyotes’ leading scorer, extended his scoring streak to nine games with an assist for Hayton’s goal. He has seven goals and 10 assists on the run and 76 points in 71 games.
Keller also tied Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon for the second-highest points since the NHL All-Star hiatus. Both have 35 points in this time span. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid has the most points (44) since the break.
MISSING INJURY
Winnipeg’s top scorer Kyle Connor has not scored in 11 straight games. … Blake Wheeler hasn’t scored in his last 18 games and Mark Scheifele has only two assists in his last six games.
NEXT
Coyotes: In Edmonton on Wednesday night in the second of a three-game streak.
Jets: In Anaheim on Thursday night in the opener of a three-game trip.
