The Winnipeg Jets have fallen to 30-13-5 on the season.
The Winnipeg Jets are streaking once again, but in the wrong direction.
On Tuesday night, the Jets made their return to the ice following the NHL All-Star weekend and league-mandated bye week.
The return, however, was anything but intriguing for the Jets fans that made it down to Pennsylvania for the inter-conference tilt.
Pittsburgh pulled ahead to a 1-0 advantage on a Kris Letang marker off a defensive zone giveaway midway through the first period.
The turning point in the game came 4:15 into the middle stanza, when Brenden Dillon caught Noel Acciari up high as he carried the puck up ice. Acciari's face bounced off the ice and he needed assistance getting to the Penguins' room.
Dillon was booted from the game and Pittsburgh went to the man advantage for a full five minutes. During that timeframe, the Jets gave up two netfront goals, giving the host a three goal lead through 40 minutes.
Winnipeg thought it had one back, as Mark Scheifele blasted a one-timer past Tristan Jarry, but the play was reviewed on an offside Coach's Challenge. It was determined that Gabe Vilardi was, in fact, offside, discredited Scheifele with the goal.
That was the closest that the Jets would come, as Pittsburgh strapped things down in the late stages, putting the finishing touches on the Penguins' 3-0 shutout win.
Jarry stopped all 23 pucks he faced, while Hellebuyck made 24 stops on the 27 shots directed his way.
The loss put Winnipeg at 30-13-5 and was the Jets' fourth-straight shortcoming since dropping games in Boston and Toronto in the last week of January.
It was announced on Wednesday morning that Dillon would have a telephone hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety, meaning he could face a suspension up to five games for his check on Acciari.
The Jets are back in action on Thursday as they travel to the city of brotherly love for a tilt with the Philadelphia Flyers. That game can also be viewed live at 6:00 PM central on TSN.