Jets Send Blues Packing with 4-2 Home Win

The Winnipeg Jets have strung together back-to-back wins for the first time this season. 

On Tuesday, fans at Canada Life Centre were treated to an entertaining 4-2 victory by the new 3-3-0 Jets over the visiting St. Louis Blues. 

“This is a divisional game and we needed a big win," forward David Gustafsson said post-game. "I think we all played really good today. Even though they had some chances I feel like we were the better team.”

Gustafsson, Mason Appleton, Kyle Connor and Morgan Barron each scored for Winnipeg, which picked up its first victory in Manitoba since its 6-4 home-opening win against Florida on October 14. 

And they did so without head coach Rick Bowness, who has taken a leave of absence to be with his wife Judy, who suffered a seizure on Sunday.

“This game certainly is dedicated to them," Appleton said. "Bones knows that we are all here for him and we are all here for Judy as well. We are happy that she is doing better. Obviously, there is a bit of a recovery ahead, but Bones also knows that we are going to do our job here. We are going to play as hard as we can for him and her."

With October being Child Advocacy Month, Tuesday marked the Child Advocacy Game at Canada Life Centre. A local charity endorsed by team captain Adam Lowry, the Toba Centre for Children and Youth was honoured pre-game with a ceremonial ‘pup’ drop by the ever-familiar ‘Duke’.

Other than two ‘right place at the right time’ pieces of luck from Connor Hellebuyck, Duke’s puck drop was surely the highlight of the opening period.

Tied at zeros through 20 minutes, Winnipeg maintained a slight 8-6 lead as the second period began.

The middle stanza was everything the first period was not. The Jets scored twice in a span of 18 seconds, while Connor Hellebuyck turned aside two breakaways off the stick of Jordan Kyrou, before giving up a power play goal to the visitors.

First, it was David Gustafsson, who scored his first goal in 1,427 days, hammering home his first since 2019 on a mad rush off the bench. Cole Perfetti kept the play alive behind the Blues’ net, before teeing Gustafsson up in the slot.

“Dave’s a heck of a worker," Appleton said. "To see a guy like that score a goal it pumps you up. It’s a hell of a reward for him and how hard he works every single day. He’s a really good player, obviously. He’s done good things in this league and he’s going to continue doing that. But to see him score that goal, it was a huge goal.”

Just 18 seconds later Mason Appleton put his second of the season through Jordan Binnington, putting the home team up 2-0 just 3:13 into the period. With Kenny Chesney’s Keg in the Closet still blasting over the speakers at Canada Life Centre, the Blues opted to call a team timeout in hopes of settling the nerves put on by goals against in two-straight shifts.

It seemed to work, as the Blues put up back-to-back shifts of breakaways for forward Jordan Kyrou. But it was Connor Hellebuyck shutting the door both times, turning aside the heavy pressure for the better part of the frame.

But a Dylan Samberg high-sticking penalty led to a St. Louis power play marker from Pavel Buchnevich. Kyrou found Brayden Schenn, whose shot was perfectly deflected by Buchnevich, whose first gave the Blues life in what ended up being a three-goal period.

Putting up 14 shots to St. Louis’ 10, the Jets maintained a 22-16 lead through 40 minutes. 

Winnipeg got back in on the fun just 4:10 into the third period, as Connor snapped home his fourth tally of the season. Getting an extra shift in a four-on-four situation, the Shelby Township, MI. product ripped the puck past Bennington high, blocker side, giving the Jets some much-needed insurance. 

But with Binnington on the bench, the visitors pulled to within one, as Robert Thomas scored his first from on the doorstep with 3:23 to play.

Morgan Barron sealed the deal for Winnipeg on his second of the year into an empty net with 70 seconds left on the clock.

“They talked about making sure they got out and not let him down," associate coach Scott Arniel said of dedicating the game to the Bownesses. "They wanted to do it for all of the right reasons. Like we said, we’re a family here and we care about each other, and they care about Rick and Judy. They wanted to put their best foot forward and I thought they did a great job of it. I said this morning, big divisional opponent and our first opponent of the year and it’s a big one.”

Hellebuyck turned aside 18 of St. Louis' 20 shots on net and picked up back-to-back wins in the process. He will look to continue his hot streak in his hometown on Thursday. Binnington allowed three Jets goals on the 29 shots sent his way. 

The Jets are now off to Detroit for a Thursday night test with the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM central time. The game can be viewed live on TSN.