Winnipeg 2, Los Angeles 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Where: Bell MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Referees:
Justin St. Pierre, Ian Walsh
Linesmen:
Ryan Galloway, Travis Gawryletz
Attendance:
15321
By Field Level Media
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor scored goals, and Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves as the Winnipeg Jets won their home opener with a 2-1 victory Tuesday over the Los Angeles Kings.
The Jets, who were the NHL's best home team last season, finishing with a 32-7-2 record at Bell MTS Place, held the Kings to just 17 shots on goal. Winnipeg advanced to the Western Conference finals last season, getting eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored a first-period goal for the Kings, who were playing their first game on the road after an overtime loss and a victory at Staples Center to open the season.
Kovalchuk, in his 12th NHL season but first with the Kings, scored his first goal with his new team. He played his first 7 1/2 NHL seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, leaving in 2009-10. The Thrashers moved to Winnipeg for the start of the 2011-12 season.
The Kings were playing their second game without veteran goalie Jonathan Quick, who is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury sustained in practice Saturday. Kings backup goalie Jack Campbell made 37 saves in his seventh career start.
After an elaborate pregame ceremony, the Kings got the early jump on the Jets with Kovalchuk's goal 6:26 into the game. He redirected a centering pass from Drew Doughty past Hellebuyck.
Doughty was playing in a his 331st consecutive game for the Kings, passing Anze Kopitar's franchise record.
The Jets wasted little time getting even, with Scheifele scoring at the 10:59 mark of the opening period. Scheifele's first goal of the season came from point-blank range after a centering pass from Brandon Tanev.
The goal was the first of Scheifele's career against the Kings. He has now scored against every NHL team except the Jets, with whom he has played all eight of his seasons.
Winnipeg went ahead for good in the second period when Connor scored a power-play goal at the 10:21 mark, his third goal of the season in three games. Connor's first shot off a pass from Blake Wheeler was saved by Campbell, but he poked the rebound back into the net.
The Jets had 33 shots on goal to the Kings' nine after two periods and had a 39-17 advantage for the game.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Los Angeles |
|
Winnipeg |
|
Ilya Kovalchuk 1 |
Points |
Kyle Connor 1 |
|
Ilya Kovalchuk 1 |
Goals |
Kyle Connor 1 |
|
Drew Doughty 1 |
Assists |
Dustin Byfuglien 1 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Kyle Connor 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Jack Campbell .949 |
Save Percentage |
Connor Hellebuyck .941 |
|
Jack Campbell 37 |
Saves |
Connor Hellebuyck 16 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Los Angeles
|
17 |
1 |
0-2 |
2-3 |
6 |
21 |
| Winnipeg
|
39 |
2 |
1-3 |
2-2 |
4 |
37 |
Upcoming Games
-
Winnipeg will play their next game on the road against Nashville. The Jets have a W/L % of .000 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
-
Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Montreal. The Kings have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .500 after a loss.
For more information, contact us