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Winnipeg Jets Shine in Vegas with 4-0 Victory

As anticipation builds for his second child, Winnipeg Jets’ goaltender Eric Comrie delivered an outstanding performance in Las Vegas on Thursday night, resembling a top-tier player as he led his team to a commanding 4-0 victory over the Golden Knights.

Comrie showcased his skills by successfully blocking all 26 shots aimed at him, including a notable 14 in the final period, contributing significantly to the Jets’ effort to maintain their four-point lead over Dallas in the Central Division standings.

The Jets struck first at the 13:01 mark of the first period. Luke Schenn initiated a long stretch pass that took a slight deflection, ultimately landing near Alex Iafallo. Seizing the opportunity, Iafallo set up a 2-on-1 by making a slick backhanded dish to Mark Scheifele, who skillfully redirected it past goaltender Adin Hill.

Approximately five minutes later, Winnipeg extended their lead. Adam Lowry carried the puck deep into the Vegas zone and cycled it around the boards to the far point, where Logan Stanley attempted a shot that was blocked. Lowry remained vigilant, locating the loose puck amidst the chaos in front of the net and successfully scoring his 15th goal of the season, tying his personal best from the 2016-17 season.

Despite being outshot by a 11-5 margin, the Jets effectively controlled the flow of the game in the first period, even with Vegas having the only power play opportunity.

Midway through the game, Winnipeg earned its first power play opportunity. Though the Jets’ power play had struggled recently, netting only three goals on their previous 28 attempts, they capitalized when Colin Miller unleashed a powerful one-timer from the blue line. The shot found the back of the net amid traffic, extending the Jets’ lead to 3-0 at the 11:53 mark of the second period.

At this juncture, the Golden Knights had only mustered three shots on goal in the second period, leaving Comrie relatively untested. However, he faced significant challenges towards the end of the period, notably stopping Mark Stone twice from close range, ensuring the Jets carried their 3-0 advantage into the final stanza.

Vegas opted to switch goalies for the third period, bringing in Akira Schmid to replace Hill. Despite the shake-up, Schmid was mostly idle as Vegas pressed hard for a comeback but found Comrie in stellar form, thwarting their efforts. With time winding down, Vegas pulled Schmid for an added skater in a last-ditch attempt to score. They controlled the zone but were unable to solve Comrie, leading to Cole Perfetti sealing the game with an empty-net goal just under a minute remaining.

In the end, while the Jets were outshot 14-3 in the final period, Comrie’s stellar performance earned him his second shutout of the season and the fourth of his career, all while his wife is expected to give birth imminently. The Jets will conclude their three-game road trip in Utah next on Saturday.

Source
globalnews.ca