ST. LOUIS (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist in the Winnipeg Jets' 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.
Hellebuyck has three shutouts in six career games against St. Louis.
Nic Petan and Patrik Laine also scored to help the Jets win for the fourth time in five games.
Jake Allen made 19 saves for the Blues. They are 0-4-1 in their last five.
The Jets, with 81 points, have a solid grasp of second place in the Central Division. The Blues, with 72 points, could lose their hold of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a Los Angeles or Calgary win Saturday.
The Jets scored twice in a 44-second span midway through the first to take control.
Petan took advantage of Chris Butler's giveaway with 9:56 left in the first period. Mark Scheifele intercepted a poor clearing attempt by Butler and found Petan. Wheeler made it 2-0 from an awkward angle against Allen, who gave up two goals on the first four shots he faced. The goal extended Wheeler's scoring streak to seven games.
Connor made it 3-0 with a power play goal with 1:29 left in the first, chipping in a rebound off of a Wheeler shot. Connor has scored four goals in his last three games.
Laine extended his goals streak to four games, beating Allen clean from the right circle at 6:04 of the second period.
Hellebuyck made several key saves early as the Blues had the first seven shots of the game. Hellebuyck also made tough saves on Brayden Schenn and Alexander Steen during a power play late in the second.
FACE IN THE CROWD
Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist in Kiss, was at the game.
NOTES: The Blues placed D Robert Bortuzzo (left knee) on injured reserve. . Jets G Michael Hutchinson backed up Hellebuyck after missing the last six games due to a concussion. ... The Blues scratched L Sammy Blais and C Oskar Sundqvist. The Jets scratched D Tucker Poolman and G Marko Dano.
UP NEXT
Jets: At Dallas on Saturday night.
Blues: At Nashville on Sunday.
