Wheeler's hat trick pushes Jets to win over Avalanche

WINNIPEG - The phrase 'measuring stick' game gets thrown around a lot. Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler wasn't ready to go there after the 5-0 win over Colorado Avalanche.
"We just want to continue to build our game and to perform obviously at home in front of our fans," said Wheeler after his fourth career hat trick. "Tonight was a good step in that direction."
Head coach Rick Bowness wants his team, now 14-6-1, to take a different lesson out of beating the defending Stanley Cup champions.
"We're starting to realize that when we play the right way, and we play the way we're supposed to play, and play together, we're a very good hockey club," Bowness said. "So was it a big game against the Stanley Cup champions, yeah, but I'm putting more focus on us and how we play."
And the Jets played very well.

Wheeler's hat trick was part of a four-point night, and his line with Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti combined for 10 points in the victory.

At the other end off the ice, Connor Hellebuyck recorded his 31st career shutout - and third of the season - by making 40 saves.
"I felt like I was doing a lot of work, because they can buzz," Hellebuyck said. "But everything was controlled when I was getting it. The guys battled so hard in front of me for those rebounds. I felt that I was part of the win tonight, and it was a good team win."
A tweak to the Jets power play paid off on its first opportunity in the first period, as Wheeler snapped home his fifth of the season to open the scoring 9:18 into the first.
Wheeler's shot came from the right circle, where Connor previously had been prior to Tuesday's match-up. With Connor posted on his strong side - the left circle - Wheeler was back on the right side, and his wrister off a Josh Morrissey pass gave the Jets power play goals in consecutive games.

Even though the team was up 1-0, Bowness felt the first period wasn't his team's best.
"After the first I went in and said 'we're giving them way too much respect here, let's go,'" said Bowness. "Then we started to play our hockey in the second and third, and there was a big difference."
Early in the second, the Jets had a goal taken off the board for goaltender interference. Wheeler's contact with Alexandar Georgiev was deemed to be the reason, however that didn't deter him from going to the net again 3:46 into the period. He served as the screen as Morrissey wired home his fifth of the season to make it 2-0.
Perfetti and Dylan DeMelo picked up assists, giving them both three-game point streaks.
With 6:53 to go in the middle frame, Wheeler added his second of the night. He finished off a tremendous passing play that began with Scheifele gaining the zone and send a cross-ice pass to Perfetti, who slipped a backhand drop pass under the stick of Samuel Girard into the slot. Wheeler was there to pound it home to make it 3-0 in favour of the Jets.

Wheeler's expression after the goal said it all. The whole play was an example of brilliant chemistry and a smart play by Perfetti, who is now second in rookie scoring with 14 points after his first career three-point effort.
"To be able to make that play on your backhand, and just see it, let alone execute it, is pretty next level stuff," Wheeler said. "He was just waiting for the defender to turn. Once he tries to poke check him and stick his stick out, that's where the lane is."
Putting together the trio of Wheeler, Scheifele, and Perfetti was a look Bowness felt he'd end up going to at some point this season.

"Early in the year, we needed Cole to play with some bigger guys, with (Dubois) and (Wheeler)," said Bowness. "Clearly, he's adjusted very well. We were going to try it to see what it looks like with Mark and Wheels. Based on the history of Dubie and Kyle, that gave us the option."
Scheifele's team-leading 12th of the season got the Jets rolling 1:22 into the third, as he tapped home a perfect pass from Kyle Connor on a 2-on-1.
Then Scheifele and Perfetti went back into playmaking mode with 3:51 left in regulation. Scheifele kept the puck in at the blue line, then won a race to the puck with Cale Makar to send it back to Perfetti who joined the rush. Perfetti quickly spun and put a backhand pass on Wheeler's tape, and his shot banked off Georgiev and Makar before rolling in for Wheeler's eight goal of the campaign.

Hats littered the ice, and Wheeler's goal song - Hypnotize by The Notorious B.I.G - played for the third time that evening.
"I know my kids are going to be fired up. They've been giving me a hard time," said Wheeler. "They've been to two games and haven't heard it once. After every game they're 'we gotta hear your song, we gotta hear your song.' Hopefully they'll be excited."
As for Wheeler, who became the team's franchise leader in games played just two games ago, he's just as fired up for the win and the way the team is playing.
"Just grateful to still be out there and playing a meaningful role on a pretty good hockey team," said Wheeler. "When you're playing with the guys I get to play with, you're going to get put in those position. Like I said, I just feel fortunate a few bounces went my way tonight."