Carter Brooks Winnipeg Jets Postgame Report 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.
