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| Blake Wheeler (26) scores his eighth of the season in second period action Tuesday |
Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine each scored their 13th goals of the season-both trailing Sydney Crosby by two goals for the league lead-while Blake Wheeler scored his eighth. Laine ended a six-game goal scoring drought.
Connor Hellebyuck made 23 saves and set a franchise record for the longest shutout run at home with 174 mintues and 54 seconds until the Devils' Mark Wood scored at 2:52 of the third period. He is 5-0 at home in his last five starts.
Brian Little returned to the line-up after missing 23 games (48 of the last 49 going back to his season-ending injury last year in which he missed the last 25 games) but failed to score, continuing his career donut against the New Jersey Devils in the goals department.
The unsung hero of this game was Andrew Copp, who added an assist to his point totals on Wheeler's second period goal and did all the work in front of the net to earn it. He was a thorn in the Devils side at every given opportunity. Serious consideration would have to go to Marko Dano as he took one for the team. To the face that is.
The Edmonton Oilers are next on this three-game home stand before the Jets set out on the road again for a two-games against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks before coming home to face the Detroit Red Wings.
Connor McDavid and company will be a real challenge for the Jets as McDavid leads the league in points, and although the Oilers are on a two-game losing skid, they have had a successful year and can score multiple goals at will on some nights.
However, the Jets will show the Oilers on Thursday that the confines of the MTS Centre will be vastly different than the choppy ice of Investment Group Field that both teams had to endure at the Heritage Classic. Plus, the Jets are a little more healthier with the return of Brian Little and Mathieu Perrault in the lineup. It's going to be a shoot-out I think with both McDavid and Laine leading the way.
Scheifele is going to have something to say about McDavid trying to dominate in his back yard, so watch for him to contribute as well.
The Jets have a chance to move into third, just two points behind St. Louis and staying relevant in the playoff hunt; barring a win by the Minnesota Wild. Regardless of any downplay, this is a big game.
