WINNIPEG— Nino Niederreiter scored twice in his 900th career NHL game and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves to help the Winnipeg Jets defeat the Utah Hockey Club 3-0 on Tuesday.

It was Hellebuyck’s second shutout of the season and 39th of this career.

Gabriel Vilardi also scored for the Jets (12-1-0) and Adam Lowry recorded two assists in front of 12,932 spectators at the Canada Life Centre.

Utah (5-5-3) ended a three-game point streak (1-0-2).

Karel Vejmelka stopped 25 shots for Utah in his second stop on a four-game road trip.

Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey He collected his 14th assist of the season when his point shot, with five seconds remaining on the power play, was deflected by Vilardi at 17:57 of the second period.

Niederreiter made it 2-0 at 7:30 of the third period and scored his seventh goal of the season into an empty net with 2:59 remaining.

Jets winger Kyle Connor saw its franchise-record season-opening points streak end at 12 games. He almost had an assist until Vilardi tipped over Morrissey’s shot.

TAKE AWAY

Jets: Winnipeg had chances to put shots on net, but got off track early on looking for the perfect setup until Morrissey sent a shot from the point with Vilardi in front of the net.

Utah: The visitors had three power plays, but didn’t have a shot on goal in the first and only forced Hellebuyck to make a save in each of the next two. The Jets blocked 17 shots, compared to five for Utah.

KEY MOMENT

Niederreiter lifted the stick of a Utah opponent in Winnipeg’s end, allowing the Jets to recover the puck and drive toward the visitors’ net. He then joined the rush, broke and put the puck around Vejmelka.

KEY STATUS

The Jets went 1-for-2 on the power play, giving them a power play goal in six straight games. They entered the game leading the NHL in power play (44.1 percent).

FOLLOWING

Utah: Visit St. Louis Blues THURSDAY.

Jets: organize it Colorado Avalanche THURSDAY.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 5, 2024.