The Winnipeg Jets defeated Central Division rival Colorado Avalanche 1-0 Thursday evening in a sport the place the goaltenders typically flummoxed shooters.
Gabriel Vilardi’s aim 66 seconds into the bout at Canada Life Centre, when he potted a wrist shot off a pleasant dish from Mark Scheifele to complete off a two-on-one rush, was all of the offence the Jets wanted. Vilardi has scored six objectives in his previous eight video games.
Gabriel Vilardi opens the scoring for the Jets. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/xt6bhny9TB
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 8, 2024
The Avalanche, who misplaced all 4 regular-season video games to the Jets in 2023-24 however then acquired revenge by crushing them within the first spherical of the playoffs, managed play for good parts of the second and third intervals, together with throughout a late six on 4 with Alexandar Georgiev pulled and Josh Morrissey within the field for holding. Nevertheless, Jets’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck got here up with a lot of sturdy positional saves all through the evening to maintain the Avs’ potent offense off the scoresheet.
Hellebuyck made 35 saves for his second shutout in a row — he blanked the Utah Hockey Membership 3-0 on Tuesday night — and fortieth goose egg of his profession. Georgiev, who’s off to a shaky begin to the season, made 27 saves of his personal, together with an glorious glove cease on Nikolaj Ehlers within the third to maintain his aspect inside putting distance.
With the win to enhance to 13-1-0, the Jets are solely the second crew in NHL historical past, together with the 2007-08 Ottawa Senators, to win 13 of their first 14 video games. The Avalanche fell to 6-8-0 and have misplaced 4 of their previous 5.
The sport featured the league’s two greatest energy performs however neither may convert, with the Jets going 0-2 and the Avalanche going 0-1.
The attendance was 12,918.
The Jets play subsequent on Saturday afternoon after they welcome the Dallas Stars to Winnipeg to wrap up a four-game homestand. The Avalanche will return to Denver to welcome the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
