WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Blake Wheeler had three goals and an assist, Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves and the Winnipeg Jets routed the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Mark Scheifele added a goal and two assists, and Josh Morrissey had a goal and an assist. Cole Perfetti contributed three assists for the Jets (14-6-1).
Hellebuyck’s third shutout of the season and 31st of his career began a four-game homestand at Canada Life Centre, where the Jets are 8-2-0.
Alexandar Georgiev stopped 19 shots for Colorado (12-7-1), which opened a four-game trip. It was the second time this season the Avalanche were shut out.
Winnipeg led 1-0 after the first period and 3-0 following the second.
Wheeler opened the scoring at 9:18 of the first, beating Georgiev stick side 20 seconds into a power play.
Scheifele appeared to score at 2:05 of the second, but Colorado challenged for goaltender interference by Wheeler and the goal was nixed.
Less than two minutes later, Morrissey fired a point shot through traffic to make it 2-0.
Wheeler scored his sixth of the season at 13:07, taking advantage of a pass from Perfetti that put Georgiev out of position.
Scheifele got his 12th after a quick pass across the front of the crease from Kyle Connor at 1:22 of the third.
Wheeler completed the hat trick with 3:51 remaining when Perfetti sent him a pass in the high slot.
JOSH ‘NORRISSEY’
Morrissey, who’s been jokingly called Josh Norrissey by teammates in reference to the Norris Trophy that goes to the NHL's top defenseman, extended his point streak to five games (four goals, five assists). He leads the Jets with 25 points in 21 games (five goals, 20 assists) and hasn’t gone consecutive games this season without a point.
Morrissey was selected the NHL’s second star of the week after scoring consecutive overtime winners last week and posting seven points (three goals, four assists) in four games.
STREAKS STOPPED
Colorado forward Artturi Lehkonen had his career-high nine-game point streak snapped. He had four goals and seven assists during the run, which was the longest point streak on the team this season.
The Avalanche, the league’s top power-play team heading into the game, went 0 for 3 with the man advantage. That ended a run of eight straight games with a power-play goal.
UP NEXT
Colorado: Plays at Buffalo on Thursday.
Winnipeg: Hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.
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