WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - The Winnipeg Jets are seeing the benefits of Mark Scheifele’s hard work.
Scheifele, the Jets’ top-line center, scored twice and added an assist as Winnipeg defeated the New York Rangers 4-3 Tuesday night.
Scheifele has a team-leading 30 goals in 57 games, two goals away from his career high reached in 79 games in 2016-17. He has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in his past 17 games.
“He’s not stopping,” said Jets forward Andrew Copp, who scored the game-winner. “He’s obviously having a fantastic year. He puts in the work on the ice, off the ice.
“He’s as dialed in as it gets. It ain’t stopping now, so buckle up.”
Defenseman Joe Morrow recorded his first goal of the season and added an assist for Winnipeg.
Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves for the Jets, who opened a three-game homestand. Winnipeg has at least a point in its past nine home games (8-0-1).
Mika Zibanejad scored twice and Pavel Buchnevich had a goal for the Rangers. Mats Zuccarello added two assists and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 32 shots for the Rangers, who started a four-game road trip.
“I always say it’s nice to see the bounces go in, but we didn’t win today so it doesn’t really matter,” Zibanejad said of notching his 24th and 25th goals of the season.
Scheifele and linemate Blake Wheeler are tied for the team lead in points at 68.
“Playing with two unbelievable players so I’m pretty lucky,” Scheifele said. “On any given night we try to do everything for each other. That one guy gets rewarded.
“If it’s a guy driving the net or taking a hit or blocking a shot or having a good stick, that’s what we do for each other all over the ice. I was lucky tonight to get two.”
The game was tied 2-2 heading into the third period before Zibanejad’s second goal of the game at 57 seconds.
Winnipeg responded with goals from Morrow and Copp 1:58 apart to take a 4-3 lead.
Lundqvist was disappointed the Rangers’ comeback effort didn’t pay off.
“I feel like, even myself, I battle in this game to try to make the right things and get rewarded, but the result is the same,” Lundqvist said. “And it’s very disappointing for us as a group, but even for me personally.”
The Jets had built a 2-0 lead in the first period on two goals by Scheifele.
The Rangers delivered their own pair of goals in the second period, striking early with Zibanejad’s first goal at 38 seconds when the puck went off a post and in.
Buchnevich tied it 2-2 with 17 seconds remaining on a New York power play, redirecting a shot by Ryan Strome at 19:19.
The Jets took another penalty with 18 seconds remaining in the period and the Rangers capitalized early in the third.
Zibanejad scored 57 seconds into the third after he shot the puck and it bounced off two Winnipeg defenders and into the net for the 3-2 lead.
“I think it’s a good sign we battled back,” Rangers head coach David Quinn said. “We turned the switch on which isn’t easy to do when you play that poorly in the first to come out the way we did in the second and third.”
NOTES: Zibanejad has 21 points (13 goals, eight assists) in his past 13 games. Zuccarello has 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in his past 12 games.
UP NEXT
Rangers: At Buffalo on Friday.
Jets: Host Colorado on Thursday.
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