OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The Winnipeg Jets achieved a historic milestone as they extended their franchise-record winning streak to an impressive 11 games, securing a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turned in a stellar performance, making 24 crucial saves to bolster the Jets’ remarkable run.
Hellebuyck, who has been in exceptional form, secured his second consecutive win following his standout performance for the United States in the recent 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. With this victory, Hellebuyck, the NHL victory leader, now boasts an impressive 36-7-2 record, further solidifying the Jets’ dominant position in the league with an overall record of 42-14-3 and a strong road record of 19-9-0.
The Jets’ offensive prowess was on full display as Cole Perfetti and Mason Appleton found the back of the net to open the scoring. Kyle Connor added to the lead with his 31st goal of the season, while Mark Scheifele sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, marking his 33rd of the campaign. Connor and Scheifele also contributed with assists during the game.
On the Senators’ side, Thomas Chabot managed to get one past Hellebuyck, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Jets’ relentless offensive pressure. Senators’ goaltender Linus Ullmark put up a valiant effort, making 35 saves, but ultimately couldn’t prevent his team from suffering their fifth consecutive defeat.
Notably, Perfetti and Appleton scored within a span of just 1 minute and 17 seconds in the first period, setting the tone for the Jets’ dominant performance. Connor extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second period, with Chabot quickly responding for Ottawa to briefly narrow the gap.
Looking ahead, the Winnipeg Jets are now within six wins of matching the NHL record win streak of 17 games, currently held by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators faced challenges with a limited lineup, dressing only 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the game.
One of the key moments in the match came as the Senators committed costly errors leading to the Jets’ first two goals. An unforced turnover by Tim Stutzle opened the door for the Jets to capitalize, followed by a defensive lapse leading to an odd-man rush that resulted in a goal. These mistakes proved pivotal in shaping the outcome of the game.
A standout statistic from the game was Hellebuyck’s remarkable record of 21-2-2 in his last 25 starts, underscoring his importance to the Jets’ success this season.
Next on the schedule, the Winnipeg Jets will travel to Nashville to take on the Predators in a challenging matchup on Thursday night
