Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves, Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter each had a goal and an assist as the visiting Winnipeg Jets downed the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Thursday night.
Hellebuyck’s sharp performance neutralized an offense that entered the game averaging an NHL-best 4.86 goals per game.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor had the other goals for the Jets.
Jets coach Rick Bowness remained on leave of absence due to his wife’s health issues.
Lucas Raymond scored the only goal for the Red Wings, who lost in regulation for the first time since their season opener. Dylan Larkin stretched his season point streak to eight games with an assist. James Reimer was credited with 25 saves.
Detroit forward Alex DeBrincat, who entered the contest with a league-high nine goals, had four shots on goal but came up empty.
Winnipeg emerged from the first period with a 2-0 advantage.
Ehlers scored his first goal this season when he spun around and lifted a shot over Reimer’s left shoulder. Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg were credited with the assists.
A Red Wings turnover in their own zone led to Winnipeg’s second goal. Josh Morrissey made the steal, and Connor scored from the slot with 2:30 left in the period.
Detroit scored at 3:18 of the second period. Hellebuyck saved a Larkin shot from the point. Raymond, stationed near the net, then backhanded the rebound for his second goal this season. Moritz Seider picked up the second assist.
The Red Wings had 10 shots on goal during the first four minutes of the third. They soon got a power play when Morrissey was whistled for high sticking against Raymond. Detroit still couldn’t knot the score.
Appleton’s third goal this season with 9:34 remaining gave the Jets a cushion. He scored in front on a shot that deflected off Reimer’s skate. Adam Lowry and Niederreiter collected the assists.
Niederreiter added an empty-netter in the final minute.
–Field Level Media
