Jets use four-goal second period to defeat Maple Leafs
Blake Wheeler had two assists in his 1000th NHL game, and the Winnipeg Jets used a four-goal second period to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Sunday.
“It’s one of those things where there is a lot of buildup and anticipation,” Wheeler said. “You want to absorb it and enjoy it and soak in every moment, but at the same time, it’s nice to move on. It’s weird being front and center when you play a team sport, but it was a special day for my family.
“We started just a bit sluggish, but after that we were rolling, our power play was good, we got contributions from everyone. It was a good night for us.”
Andrew Copp, Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist, and Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves for the Jets (12-8-4), who have won three of their past four games.
“Today was just a good hockey game,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. “It had a little bit of everything in it, and there was some energy and emotion as there should be.”
Auston Matthews scored to extend his goal streak to six games, and Joseph Woll made 35 saves for the Maple Leafs (17-7-2), who were coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
“We played into their game and allowed them to use their transition,” Toronto captain John Tavares said. “They’re one of the best teams in the League in that area. Too many 2-on-1’s, and the opportunities we gave up, it was disappointing that we really got away from our game today. We battled to keep the door open going into the third but just weren’t able to generate enough and get the opportunities we needed.”
Copp gave Winnipeg a 2-1 lead at 1:51 of the second period. He received a stretch pass from Neal Pionk and fought off Rasmus Sandin before shooting five-hole on Woll.
Evgeny Svechnikov made it 3-1 at 4:54 after taking a pass from Dominic Toninato on a 2-on-1, and Connor extended the lead to 4-1 at 7:38 with a one-timer on the power play.
Nikolaj Ehlers made it 5-1 at 10:45 when he one-timed a pass from Copp short side on Holl from low in the right circle.
Matthews scored during a 5-on-3 power play to cut it to 5-2 at 14:20. He has scored eight goals during his streak.
Ondrej Kase brought Toronto to within 5-3 when he banked a shot off Hellebuyck from below the goal line at 15:46.
“We gave ourselves a chance there, battling back in the second to get within two goals down with a period to play. But then the game itself just got out of hand,” Matthews said. “I’m proud of the way stuck up for each other tonight despite the way we played and the end result. Obviously, we’re leaving the rink with a sour taste in our mouths.”
Scheifele scored on the power play at 8:14 of the third period for the 6-3 final.
“I didn’t feel at 5-3 it was (trouble), it was a 5-on-3 penalty and a goal that Hellebuyck gives up once a year,” Maurice said. “He’s not giving up another of those, it just makes him angry. I liked our third period a whole lot, I liked our zone time, I liked our puck decisions. It was sort of even. They had some pressure, but they’ve got a good team so they’re going to get in your end for two or three minutes, but I thought our third was our best period.”
Dubois gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 4:05 of the first period with a backhand at the top of the crease during a power play. It was his 200th NHL point.
Michael Bunting tied it 1-1 with his own power-play goal at 16:08.
Sunday night lines 👇#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/1Lb1Ry7nCl
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 6, 2021
Toronto’s Jason Spezza has been suspended for six games for Kneeing Winnipeg’s Neal Pionk. https://t.co/DDlM0Tdzw3
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 8, 2021
Winnipeg’s Neal Pionk has been suspended for two games for Kneeing Toronto’s Rasmus Sandin. https://t.co/69HHijjoXA
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 6, 2021
Toronto’s Wayne Simmonds has been fined $2,250, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Cross-checking Winnipeg’s Jansen Harkins.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 6, 2021