Jets jump into playoff position with win over Coyotes
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and two assists to lead the Winnipeg Jets over the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Monday night in a matchup critical to the crowded Western Conference playoff race.
Cody Eakin broke a 2-all tie for the Jets at 11:33 of the third period when he picked up the puck and backhanded a shot past Arizona netminder Darcy Kuemper. It was Eakin's first goal since being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 21.
Mark Scheifele added an empty-netter, and defenseman Tucker Poolman had a goal and an assist for Winnipeg. Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves as the Jets moved into the top wild-card spot in the West with 78 points, four more than the Coyotes.
Nick Schmaltz scored both goals for Arizona, which squandered a 2-0 lead. Kuemper stopped 30 shots.
It was the last of a three-game homestand for the Jets, who have won six straight at home to improve to 20-14-3 at Bell MTS Place.
Ehlers pulled the Jets to 2-1 early in the second period when he took a stretch pass from Poolman at the blue line, sped around the defenders and beat Kuemper with a soft knuckler. Poolman knotted the score late in the period when he pounced on Eakin's rebound, with Ehlers also assisting.
The Coyotes jumped out to a 2-0 lead late in the first. With just 1.2 seconds on the clock, Schmaltz pounced on Phil Kessel's rebound and beat Hellebuyck for his second goal of the game.
After taking a pass from Kessel, Schmaltz opened the scoring when he skated around Neil Pionk and beat Hellebuyck with a high shot at the 15:50 mark of the first.
NOTES: Jets coach Paul Maurice passed Ken Hitchcock (1,598) to move into sole possession of fifth place in career games as an NHL head coach. ... Jets center Adam Lowry returned after missing 20 games with an upper-body injury. He fought Lawson Crouse on his first shift.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Jets: Embark on a three-game road trip through Western Canada, with the first game in Edmonton on Wednesday.
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