The Winnipeg Jets went to the Climate Pledge Arena, in Seattle yesterday, for their first ever matchup against the Seattle Kraken, who joined the NHL as an expansion franchise this season.
The Jets did not make any lineup changes from their loss in their last game to the Carolina Hurricanes and Connor Hellebuyck started in net.
Winnipeg looked like a whole new team compared to their sluggish game against the Hurricanes and a full team effort propelled them to a terrific road win versus the Kraken.
Connor Hellebuyck earned his first shutout of the season in the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 over the Seattle Kraken
The Jets started the game strong last night, as Dominic Toninanto gave the Jets a 1-0 lead just over five minutes into the contest.
This goal was the outcome of a great forecheck of Kristian Vesalanien and Paul Stastny who forced a turnover. Stastny was then able to pick up the loose puck behind the Kraken’s net and he made a great pass to Toninanto who was skating towards the slot. Toninanto then delivered a quick release wrist shot that beat Grubauer.
The second period had no scoring and the Jets entered the third period with a slim one-goal lead, but they were able to extend their lead to two in the opening moments of the third frame.
Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele turned a two-on-three into a great goal as Connor entered the offensive zone and dropped the puck to Scheifele. Connor then went to the slot and all three of Seattle’s players were puck watching Scheifle, which left Connor wide open.
Scheifele then delivered a great backhand pass to Connor who was all alone in the slot and he ripped a wrist shot over Grubauer’s blocker to extend the Jets’ lead.
Kyle Connor was then able to score his second of the night when the Jets forced a neutral zone turnover with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.
Connor then beat the Kraken’s defenseman to the loose puck near their blueline and poked the past him, which lead to a mini-breakaway. Connor then lifted a high wrist shot into the back of the neat against Grubauer, who was low and defending against a deke. This goal was Connor’s seventeenth of this season and gave Winnipeg a 3-0 lead.
Winnipeg then shut down Seattle for the remainder of regulation to earn their first road shutout in this 3-0 victory in their first game against the Kraken.
3 Winners
Kyle Connor: 2 Goals, +2 plus/minus
Connor Hellebuyck: Stopped all 25 shots faced; Picked up his first shutout of the 2021-2022 season
Jets’ Penalty Kill: 100% Success Rate (Five successful kills on five attempts)
The Jets will look to build on this win as they head north into Canada tonight to take on the Vancouver Canucks. Stay tuned to our site later today for a game preview for tonight’s Jets vs. Cancuks game.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: How many shutouts do you predict Connor Hellebuyck will finish this regular season with? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats and Videos Provided by the NHL*