The Winnipeg Jets got a huge night from the top line tonight as Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabe Vilardi combined for 11 points in a 5-2 comeback win over the normally stingy Los Angeles Kings. Scheifele and Ehlers scored twice and Vilardi added a single for the Jets who are now 17-9-2 and they finished 3-1 on their four-game road trip. Connor Hellebuyck has allowed two goals or less in 13 of his last 18 starts. Winnipeg returns home Saturday when they host the Colorado Avalanche.
KINGS QUICK START
Winnipeg was playing the final game of a long road trip, so the last thing they wanted to do was fall behind by two goals against one of the league’s best defensive teams. That’s exactly what happened when Los Angeles scored two goals less than three minutes apart in the first period. Anze Kopitar scored on the power play at 9:36 and Alex Laferriere banked a shot off Connor Hellebuyck’s mask at 12:29. The Kings were 11-0-1 when leading after 20 minutes heading into Wednesday night.
TOP LINE PUSHBACK
Nikolaj Ehlers played with Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi for the second straight game and the trio took over in the middle period. First, Vilardi broke up a play inside the Jets blueline and began the rush to the Kings zone, then he left it for Ehlers who cut to the inside and fired a quick shot that caught Cam Talbot off guard. The Danish forward would add his second of the night when he entered the Kings zone with a full head of steam and went top shelf glove side on Talbot. Mark Scheifele would give the Jets the lead for the first time when he pounced on a loose puck and made it 3-2 at 15:00.
VILARDI PARTY
Vilardi and Alex Iafallo made their return to LA for the first time since their trade to Winnipeg from the Kings tonight. Vilardi recorded three assists in the second period and then scored his second goal as a Jet in the third period to round out his first career four-point game.
