Mason makes 31 saves, Jets shut out Rangers

NEW YORK -- Patrik Laine had a natural hat trick, and Steve Mason made 31 saves to help the Winnipeg Jets shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
It was the third straight multigoal game for Laine, who has nine goals in his past five games and 13 in his past nine.

Laine, 19, became the third player in NHL history to score at least four hat tricks before turning 20.
"Just pure luck, I guess," Laine said. "I don't know, that's a good question and it's kind of a secret so I don't want everyone to know that."
WATCH: [All Jets vs. Rangers highlights]
Mason's shutout was his first since March 15, 2017 against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he played for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was playing in his first game since Jan. 9 after missing 21 games with a concussion.

"That's a great return," Mason said. "The guys played great in front of me. ... In order to get a shutout, you need some breaks and your team to play well as well. ... It's been a frustrating year right from the get-go. To have two concussions in the same season. ...It's nice to be back around the team and going on the road trip at an important part of the year."
The Jets (40-17-9), who have won three straight and are 8-2-0 in their past 10, are six points behind the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division.
"Our goalie was great," Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. "Mason has been through a lot. He's had to work really hard to get back. It's not an easy thing to come back from. He's been great the whole time, stayed with it. ... I think when he goes in after having a tough time, the guys want to fight a little bit more for him. He had to make some big saves and he made some really big saves to keep us in the game."

Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves for the Rangers (30-31-6), who had won three straight. New York is seven points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"There's a few players in the league that have a certain shot where they make you believe one thing and do something different," Lundqvist said. "When you leave one of the best pure shooters with no pressure, he's going to pick you apart a little bit. ... But he is good, you have to give it to him."
Mats Zuccarello had the two best scoring chances for the Rangers. He hit the post on a wrap around in the first period before Mason stopped his shot from the crease with his skate in the second.
"That's just how it goes right now," Zuccarello said. "I know I'm not a good goal scorer, but those should go in. ... It's tough but I thought we played an okay game. A little sloppy at times but we're playing a good team. I think we created a lot of chances that we couldn't get in and that's tough."

Laine gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 19:04 of the first period, scoring with a wrist shot from the left circle.
He extended the lead to 2-0 at 11:01 of the second period. With the goal, Laine became the second player in franchise history to have three straight multi-goal games, joining Ilya Kovalchuk, who did it with the Atlanta Thrashers (Jan. 4-7, 2006).
Laine scored an empty-net goal at 19:26 for his 38th of the season.
"Things are going pretty well," Laine said. "The team is winning and our line is playing pretty good hockey so I have to be satisfied with that."

Goal of the game

Laine's goal at 19:04 of the first period.

Save of the game

Mason's save on Zuccarello at 16:50 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Laine's goal at 11:01 of the second period.

They said it

"They probably had three really good chances in the first period and then [Laine] does what he's been doing for us. He doesn't need much time, or many opportunities. He's just a lethal shooter right now and we're trying to get him the puck as much as we can."-- Jets coach Paul Maurice
"You've got to hit the net. You've got to bury a couple of those early chances. That would have changed the whole dynamic of the game. There would have been more confidence, more energy, (but) we didn't score." -- Rangers coach Alain Vigneault

Need to know

Dale Hawerchuk (Jets) and Jimmy Carson (Los Angeles Kings) each had five hat tricks before turning 20. ... Jets center Mark Scheifele sustained an upper-body injury in a collision with Wheeler in the first period and did not play in the third period. Maurice said he was stiff and would be re-evaluated Wednesday. ... Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich played his 100th NHL game.

What's next

Jets: At the New Jersey Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, TSN3, NHL.TV)
Rangers: At the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SUN, MSG, NHL.TV)