In his first NHL season, Winnipeg Jets rookie sensation, Patrik Laine has now collected his third hat-trick of his career. This time it was at the hands of the struggling Dallas Stars, helping his teammates to a much-needed victory by the score of 5-2. It was Laine's second hatty against the Stars this season.Laine opened the scoring in the first period with the help of a nice patient pass from Andrew Copp. His second was with 5:07 left in the third, resulting from a wicked wrist shot from the face-off over the left glove hand of Antti Niemi. His third, and the game-winner, came from his own end on an empty-net. The second empty-netter for the Jets tonight after Blake Wheeler got his 17th goal.
Mark Scheifele had a three-point night, as he helped on all three of Laine's goals. Scheifele continues to lead the Jets with 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points. Laine sits in third in team scoring with 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points. Josh Morrissey had a terrific night as he added an assist as well as made key defensive decisions and blocked a scoring chance from the Stars'
Joel Armia also had a great game, as he was rugged in the corners while registering two shots on goal, including a one-timer from the high-slot off of Shawn Matthias' centering pass. Armia now has seven points in eight games against the Stars.
Connor Hellebuyck got the start for the Jets and although he made 34 saves, including a couple of beauties off of John Klingberg and Tyler Seguin, and got the win; the Stars scored both of their goals through the five-hole which is a continuing problem for Hellebuyck.
Seguin continues to play well against the Jets as he scored his 15th goal in 18 contests against Winnipeg. Jason Spezza recorded his 500th NHL point.
The Jets finally turned the numbers on the points speedometer to reach 56 points for the season thus far at 26-29-4. They're four points behind Los Angeles for the second wild-card spot and six behind Nashville for the first wild-card. Close. But not enough to the wild-card bunch to be a threat just yet. But it does get them closer. However, the Jets need points like never before this season, and unfortunately, their next stop is facing a surging Sidney Crosby and his Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
I don't expect any luck against the Pens, especially when Crosby will be hungrily looking for his 1000th career point. At home. Sorry Jets, another crucial two points will evade you Feb. 16. Two nights later in Montreal doesn't offer much more hope. Les Canadiens are first place in the Atlantic division with 70 points and have Carey Price. Add the fact that Winnipeg hasn't won in Montreal since Nov. 11, 2014, and you can kind of throw that one away.
I can see the Jets picking up one post-regulation point against the Ottawa Senators the next evening, and I really don't know what to expect in Toronto to rap up the four-game road trip, considering Laine and Austen Matthews will want to out do each other; especially Matthews, as you know he must want some redemption from the Leafs loss in Winnipeg on October 19th.
One to three points for the Jets in the next four games is my prediction. I hope I'm wrong.
