Summary
The Dallas Stars did not find the miracle recipe to slow down the Winnipeg Jets from conquering a page of history Saturday afternoon.
With a convincing 4-1 win over the Stars, the Jets became the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games in a season.
Goals from Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers gave the Jets a sixth straight victory. Winnipeg is the second team in history, after the Colorado Avalanche in 2013-2014, to record two streaks of at least six victories in their first 15 games.
The Jets lead the NHL with 28 points this season – out of a possible 30 –, six points more than the Minnesota Wild, their closest pursuers.
Winnipeg took control of the game with two goals in a matter of minutes midway through the first period. Iafallo first redirected a pass behind Jake Oettinger on the power play, then Kupari pounced on a throw return in the slot to double the Jets’ lead.
At the start of the second period, a shot from the blue line deflected in front of the net and the puck ended up deep in Stars territory. Namestnikov rounded the net with the puck to increase the Jets’ lead to three goals.
Ehlers then made it 4-0 with a low one-timer that beat Oettinger between the pads.
The latter was eventually removed from the game and Jets fans taunted him by chanting “US backup”, referring to the American team which will count on Oettinger and Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck during the Cup of Four nations.
Hellebuyck also finished the match with a brilliant performance of 32 saves, for his 11th victory of the season. Roope Hintz robbed him of a shutout by scoring with 82 seconds left in the game.
Peterka and Luukkonen close the books with a barrage shot
JJ Peterka scored the only goal in the shootout and the Buffalo Sabers defeated the Calgary Flames 3-2.
Tage Thompson and Zach Benson scored in the first period and the Sabers won their third straight game. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 24 shots in addition to the three shots he faced in the shootout.
Thompson found the back of the net on the power play, it was his 10th goal of the campaign.
Mikael Backlund and Matt Coronato responded for the Flames, who had won their last six meetings in Buffalo. Their last defeat dates back to November 21, 2016.
Dan Vladar, who made 17 saves, is 1-4-1 in his last six starts.
Backlund tied the game 2-2 with 4:18 remaining in the third period.
The Flames went 1-0-2 during their three-game road trip. They started the season with a 5-0-1 record, but have gone 2-5-2 since then.
