Stafford, Hellebuyck lead Jets to 6-1 win over Maple Leafs
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Connor Hellebuyck's Winnipeg Jets teammates got more evidence the rookie goalie has a bright future.
Hellebuyck stopped 32 shots and Drew Stafford scored twice to lead the Jets to a 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.
It was the 22-year-old Hellebuyck's second NHL game, and followed up a 3-1 victory against Minnesota last Friday night.
''He's calm in the net. He doesn't get scrambly, he doesn't get rattled very easily,'' said Jets center Mark Scheifele, who had a goal and two assists. ''I think that's a big thing in a young goaltender, that he's able to not crack under that pressure. He's been awesome for us and you know he's going to be a pretty special goalie.''
Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little and Anthony Peluso also scored for the Jets, and Mathieu Perrault also had two assists.
Michael Grabner scored his first goal of the season for Toronto, and rookie Garret Sparks - also playing his second pro game - finished with 29 saves. He led Toronto to a 3-0 win over Edmonton in his NHL debut Monday.
Hellebuyck savoured another victory and also praised Sparks.
''I think it's awesome,'' Hellebuyck said. ''I think any time young guys get in, they get to kind of show themselves and prove they belong there.
''I think he's a good goalie and I have no doubts that he does belong here.''
Hellebuyck was called up from Manitoba of the AHL after an injury to veteran Ondrej Pavelec that will sideline him until at least January. The Jets also have second-year goalie Michael Hutchinson.
Grabner scored at 2:02 of the first period to put the Leafs on the scoreboard first, and Stafford scored twice to give the Jets the lead for good.
Scheifele recorded his ninth goal of the season, and 100th point of his career, at 1:25 of the third period off a rebound to make it 3-1.
Ladd followed up 78 seconds later with a shot over Sparks's shoulder for his seventh of the season at 2:43.
''I lost my composure,'' Sparks said. ''I let that third goal get into my head and the fourth one came quickly after that. It's one thing to let in a goal and it's another thing to let it affect you further on in the game.
''One of my best assets I would say is to put things behind me, and for whatever reason I just didn't do that in the third period and I paid for it.''
Toronto coach Mike Babcock said Sparks, who was called up from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, was too hard on himself for the loss.
''He shouldn't have taken ownership,'' Babcock said. ''I thought we were set up really good going into the third period down 2-1. We came out and dominated the first shift of the third and then we made enough mistakes to make the goalie take ownership for no reason.
''He's a kid and we were under siege in the third period and, let's be honest, we weren't good enough. That's the most speed we've let come at us. We didn't slow them down or spend enough time in the (offensive) zone or do enough things to be successful tonight and in the end you get what you deserve.''
Toronto visits Minnesota on Friday, when it's expected James Reimer will start in net. Winnipeg hosts Washington on Saturday.
Notes: Former Leafs starting goalie Jonathan Bernier was sent to the Marlies on Wednesday for a 10-day conditioning stint. He was 0-8-1 in nine starts this season.
