Hellebuyck helps Jets hold off Canucks

VANCOUVER -- The Winnipeg Jets turned around an early slump by simplifying their game.
Patrik Laine and Tyler Myers scored 3:13 apart late in the second period, and the Jets defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at Rogers Arena on Thursday.

WATCH: [All Jets vs. Canucks highlights]
It was the second straight win for Winnipeg (2-2-0) after giving up 13 goals in two losses to open the season.
"We're being simple when we need to be simple and then when we have a chance our skill comes out," goalie Connor Hellebuyck said. "You can't argue we have a lot of skill on this team but knowing when to use it is key."
Hellebuyck made 30 saves in his second straight start ahead of Steve Mason, who signed a two-year, $8.2 million contract as a free agent July 1 but gave up 11 goals in the first two games.
Hellebuyck's best two saves came against Bo Horvat on power-play chances from the slot, the first less than a minute before Myers scored shorthanded, and the second at 9:54 of the third period with the Jets ahead 3-2.
"I am getting more comfortable in the net and a lot of that is the guys in front of me," Hellebuyck said. "We're blocking shots and doing the little things right and it's really paying off, and if we continue this I like our chances."

Josh Morrissey (9:04, first period) and Nikolaj Ehlers (empty net) scored, and Bryan Little had two assists for the Jets, who were outshot 12-6 in the second period but scored the only two goals.
Laine scored his second goal of the season on a quick shot from the slot at 15:31, and Myers scored on a 2-on-1 to make it 3-1 at 18:44.
"Simplicity," Myers said of the difference the last two games. "We're not trying to get too cute when things aren't going our way. That's a habit we have to start creating to where it becomes second nature for us."
Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev made it 3-2 with a fluttering point shot that somehow eluded Hellebuyck's glove at 12:43 of the third period, but Vancouver couldn't tie it despite outshooting Winnipeg 12-5 in the period.
"I'm not going to be playing baseball anytime soon," Hellebuyck said. "That was tracking to my glove and I don't know why I went down, that was my mistake and I kind of blinded myself. You don't see many pucks move from one end to the other."
Daniel Sedin (7:25, first period) scored a power-play goal, and Jacob Markstrom made 16 saves for the Canucks (1-1-1), who lost defenseman Alexander Edler to a lower-body injury in the first period.
"He's our minute-logger, plays in every situation," Tanev said. "It's tough to lose him and play with five the rest of the game."

Goal of the game

Myers, who played 11 games last season because of a groin injury, may not be known as a scorer, but the 6-foot-8 defenseman put the game-winning goal perfectly over the left shoulder of Markstrom, who was caught moving right. "He's going to hit that spot," said Hellebuyck, who had Myers as a shooter at goaltending camps this summer. "You think he's so big and a defenseman that he's not going to snipe, but then it comes off and he fools a lot of goalies because he has a really good, heavy shot."

Save of the game

Horvat had a great chance to tie the game from the slot on a power play with 2:10 left in the second period, but Hellebuyck threw out his blocker to stop it.

Highlight of the game

Little gained the offensive zone off the rush and peeled into the left corner before finding Laine alone in the high slot for a quick wrist shot past the glove of Markstrom. "He's an elite center," Laine said. "He can see and make those plays."

They said it

"Square, strong, and then he had one that he didn't like, I am sure, but then more important than that is you don't give up the next one, that's the key piece. He's had two really, really good nights where he has looked the same in both. His positioning is really strong and he's seeing the puck." -- Jets coach Paul Maurice on goalie Connor Hellebuyck
"That's a really good team over there. We did a lot of good things tonight. … Sometimes you are going to play well and lose and you're going to play bad and win. I think this was one of those nights." -- Canucks coach Travis Green

Need to know

Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien missed a second straight game with a lower-body injury but skated in the morning and could return against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. … Rookie Brock Boeser, who led the Canucks with seven points (four goals, three assists) in preseason, had one assist in his season debut after being a heathy scratch the first two games.

What's next

Jets: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, FS-CR, NHL.TV)
Canucks:Host the Calgary Flames on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, NHL.TV)