Red Wings fly to 5-1 victory after scoring 4 times in 3rd period against Jets
After Saturday night's defeat, Winnipeg has lost 4 of last 5 NHL matchups
J.T. Compher scored twice as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Canada Life Centre Saturday night.
The Red Wings (32-16-5) rebounded from a 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota on Thursday and now have points in their last five games (4-0-1). The Jets (20-24-7) have now lost four of their last five.
Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat and Marco Kasper also scored for the Red Wings, who scored four times in the third period. DeBrincat and Kasper added assists to join Compher with multi-point nights.
John Gibson made 26 saves to earn his 21st win of the season. Gibson has now earned victories in eight straight starts.
Cole Koepke scored the lone goal for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves in what was his fourth consecutive loss.
The Red Wings and Jets skated to a scoreless first period with shots 11-9 for the visitors. Detroit had the lone power play of the frame, but Winnipeg generated the best scoring chance. Adam
Lowry rang a shot off the crossbar on a short-handed 2-on-1 with Koepke.
The Jets were the quicker team to start the second period, testing Gibson with a couple of chances in close.
Koepke finally broke the deadlock at 10:08 of the second period, set up by Logan Stanley and Morgan Barron.
The marker snapped a scoreless drought for Winnipeg at 5-on-5 dating back to Jan. 17 against Toronto — a span of 235 minutes, 48 seconds.
Detroit responded at 15:50 when Compher batted home a loose puck in the crease to tie it 1-1. Former Jet Andrew Copp picked up the lone assist.
Compher scored his second of the game at 1:43 of the third to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Compher completed the tick-tack-toe passing play with Emmitt Finnie and James van Riemsdyk with a shot that beat Hellebuyck glove side.
Raymond made it 3-1 at 8:11, notching his 18th of the season to extend his point streak to five games (4G, 4A). The goal stood following a video review for a high stick.
DeBrincat made it 4-1 with an empty-net goal at 18:11. And Kasper rounded out the scoring for the visitors at 18:43 with a shot that beat Hellebuyck.
Takeaways
Jets: Winnipeg snapped a streak of seven straight home games earning at least a point. The Jets have struggled against the Atlantic Division, posting a 1-6-4 record and losing their last eight meetings against the division. The game marked Hellebuyck's 600th appearance in the NHL, all for the Jets.
Red Wings: With the win, the Red Wings sweep the season series 2-0. Detroit won the first game on home ice, 2-1, on Dec. 31. Raymond has four goals in his last five games.
Key moment
Raymond scored at 8:11 of the third to put Detroit up 3-1.
Key Stat
Koepke's goal was Winnipeg's first 5-on-5 goal in 235 minutes, 48 seconds of play.
Up Next
Red Wings: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Jets: Visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.