Sunday night was just not the New Jersey Devils’ night. A beat down like this has happened rarely this season, though, a desperate Winnipeg Jets team dominated the Devils and took the two points. New Jersey takes a defeat in their second of a back-to-back set, and will look to put this game in the rearview mirror. 

The Devils, who now own a 48-21-8 record, are three points back of the Carolina Hurricanes and three point up on the New York Rangers.

Game Summary

First Period

The first period belonged to the Winnipeg Jets. They outshot the Devils 13-7 and scored the game’s first two goals.

Nikolaj Ehlers got the party started early. After the puck got dumped into the corner, Ehlers was found wide open in front of the net for the tap in goal.

Moments later, Nino Niederreiter added to the lead. A Blake Wheeler shot caused a rebound that he pounced on for the goal. The high-flying Jets would take a 2-0 lead into the second period. 

Second Period

Just like the first period, the second period was all Winnipeg. Morgan Barron kicked off the scoring and with style via a penalty shot. Barron skated in and would beat Vanecek five hole to extend the lead 3-0.

The bleeding would continue as sniper Kyle Connor found a loose puck and fired a shot past Vanecek. Just like the first, Winnipeg would pot two more goals and head to the third period up 4-0. 

Third Period

The third period would continue to tilt in the favor of the Jets. Winnipeg would pile on two more goals as they have done in each of the first two periods. Upon cycling the puck, Morrissey found an open Dubois who fired a one timed blast past Mackenzie Blackwood.

Poor Blackwood would suffer more of this Jets beat down. On the power play, Scheifele found Ehlers for his second goal of the game as he one timed a shot past Blackwood.

Nico Hischier kept the not getting shutout streak alive as he scored in the final moments. The horn would sound, and the Devils would lose 6-1. 

Game Notes

• Connor Hellebuyck was stellar in this game. He went on to stop 31 of 32 shots and finished with a 2.65 goals saved above expected. 

• Vitek Vanecek had a night to forget. He got yanked after the second period. Vanecek allowed four goals, had a -2.11 goals saved above expected, and a .429 high danger save percentage.

• On a positive note, Kevin Bahl and Damon Severson were good for the club. With them on the ice they out-chanced Winnipeg by a wide margin (Severson 26-6, Bahl 24-6). Their expected goals percentage were by far the the best on the team. So, it wasn’t all bad.

What’s Next? 

The New Jersey Devils return home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night.