National Hockey League
Winnipeg 3, New Jersey 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 8, 2018
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: T.J. Luxmore, Wes McCauley
Linesmen: Michel Cormier, Jonny Murray
Attendance: 14023
Patrik Laine's first-period goal Thursday night extended a pair of streaks for the Winnipeg Jets teenager and gave the Jets a lead they never relinquished in a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.

Laine has scored at least one goal in each of the last four games, all of which the Jets have won, and has a point in 10 straight games, a stretch in which Winnipeg has gone 8-2-0.

The 19-year-old Laine, who turns 20 on Apr. 19, has 75 goals in two NHL seasons, tied with Sidney Crosby for the fifth-most ever by a player prior to his 20th birthday. Laine is just one goal behind Wayne Gretzky and Brian Bellows.

Laine extended his streaks on the same night Devils star Taylor Hall's point streak was snapped at 26 consecutive appearances.

Joel Armia and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for the Jets. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck recorded 41 saves.

Kyle Palmieri and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils. Goalie Keith Schneider made 21 saves.

Laine scored his eighth goal in four games 4:12 into the first, when he tucked home the rebound after Ehlers' pass into the crease ticked off the skate of Jets center Paul Stastny.

An injury to Devils center Travis Zajac created a shift change that led to the Jets' second goal at 13:26 of the second. Zajac, who struggled off the ice after he was leveled by Andrew Copp, made it to the bench moments before Armia's slap shot from just in front of the blue line sailed under the glove of Schneider.

Palmieri cut the gap in half by taking a multi-zone pass from Hischier and scoring on a breakaway with 3:19 left in the period.

Ehlers extended the lead to 3-1 by putting back the rebound of Dustin Byfuglien's shot 9:55 into the third. The Devils pulled back within one just 72 seconds later, when Hischier finished a flurry by getting a stick on the rebound of a shot by Jesper Bratt.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Winnipeg   New Jersey
Nikolaj Ehlers 2 Points Nico Hischier 2
Nikolaj Ehlers 1 Goals Nico Hischier 1
Nikolaj Ehlers 1 Assists Nico Hischier 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Connor Hellebuyck .953 Save Percentage Cory Schneider .875
Connor Hellebuyck 41 Saves Cory Schneider 21
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Winnipeg 24 3 0-1 4-4 8 32
New Jersey 43 2 0-4 1-1 2 33
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Nashville. The Devils have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .424 after a loss.
  • Winnipeg will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Jets have a W/L % of .575 after a win and .667 after a loss.