
The Winnipeg Jets got their coach back, earned their first shutout of the season, and saw an absolutely filthy goal from Nikolaj Ehlers, as the team picked up its fifth-straight win on Friday night.
Taking on Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers, the Jets pulled ahead to a quick 1-0 lead and never looked back.
Despite the Panthers recently adding reinforcements Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour and Sasha Barkov to their lineup, the star-studded Florida squad was no match for the red-hot Jets.
Head coach Rick Bowness made his return to the Jets' bench following a 32-day hiatus. He helped his club to a 3-0 win, by way of shutout over the hosts.
Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry and Ehlers each scored for Winnipeg, which improved to 12-5-2 on the year and has points in 13 of its last 15 games.
It was quite simply Nino being Nino, as the veteran Swiss star jammed home a rebound marker from the top of the crease late in the first period, giving Winnipeg a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.
Then it was Ehlers who made a sensational puck reception in the neutral zone, before picking up speed and dangling his way to the net en route to a spectacular finish for the insurance marker midway through the third.
Lowry put the cherry on top with an empty-net, shorthanded goal, sealing the deal on the 3-0 victory on Friday.
Connor Hellebuyck starred once again, as he earned his fourth-straight win, picked up his first shutout of the season (33rd of his career) and improved his record to 10-4-1 while turning aside all 28 pucks he faced on the night.
The Jets will look keep the good times - and good tunes - rolling as they hit up Music City on Sunday for a test with fellow Central Division opponent, Nashville.
The win placed Winnipeg in a three-way tie for first-place within the division, alongside Colorado and Dallas - all of whom have played 19 games this season.
Following the final game of the road trip, the Jets return to Canada Life Centre for a four-game homestand, beginning with a test against those Stars on Tuesday evening. Both Sunday and Tuesday's games can be viewed live on TSN at 7:00 PM central.