Laine scores twice in 3-2 Jets victory over Hurricanes

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This article was published 04/03/2018 (2800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s one of the best reality shows going right now in the National Hockey League, and Patrik Laine took his act on the road and put on another stellar episode Sunday night, this time for the fine folks of Raleigh who likely didn’t appreciate it as much as those in Winnipeg do.

Laine scored twice — ho hum, what else is new? — and assisted on another to lead the Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes as they kicked off a six-game road trip. It’s the second straight game, and third time in four, the Finnish sniper has lit the lamp twice as he continues to climb up the NHL record book in addition to helping his team gather valuable points in the playoff race.

“I can feel it, when the game is going to be like that, when you’re going to get a lot of chances,” the 19-year-old said following the game.

With 35 goals so far this season, Laine is now up to 71 in his career. That puts him sixth for goals scored by a teenager in NHL history. Jimmy Carson leads the way with 92, and Laine said earlier Sunday he had visions of leading that list when all was said and done.

We think he was joking, considering there are just 17 regular-season games left in the season, after which he will turn 20. But with the way he’s shooting the puck right now and the confidence with which he’s playing, who’s going to doubt him? Sidney Crosby (75), Wayne Gretzky (76) and Brian Bellows (76) are clearly within range, while Dale Hawerchuk’s 85 would certainly need a huge push.

Consider this: Laine’s two goals Sunday probably came on his fourth and fifth best chances of the game. In one incredible first-period shift, he rang a shot off the crossbar, hit the post seconds later and then fired wide from point-blank range. It was utter dominance.

“I was pretty mad at myself. I should have scored from those chances. And I thought they’re not going to pass to me anymore if I can’t bury it from those chances, but thank God they did,” Laine said with a perfectly straight face.

And he also showed he’s more than just a scorer, making a pair of fine defensive plays during the game which helped Winnipeg break the puck out of their own zone and escape trouble.

Laine has 10 goals and six assists in the eight games since moving down to the so-called third line along with Nikolaj Ehlers. Andrew Copp was between them the first five games before deadline day trade addition Paul Stastny took the spot, creating a matchup nightmare for opponents such as the Hurricanes.

“They were real good, but they were good in their own end too. They battled some pucks out at times,” coach Paul Maurice said after the game. “They throw a lot of pucks at the net, compete real hard, and we had to be pretty solid in front of our net. But the Stastny line has been (good) and I think there’s more there as they get more and more used to each other. They’ve got a real nice chemistry.”

As for the rest of Sunday’s game, goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s effort can’t be overlooked or underappreciated. He stopped 33 of 35 shots he faced, including all 17 during a second-period barrage where his team had to kill off a pair of penalties.

“I thought that’s exactly how we wanted to play. We grinded, we played hard, and our details were right. And then we battled right to the end,” said Hellebuyck, who has now tied Kari Lehtonen for the single-season franchise record for victories with 34.

“It means I need one more,” Hellebuyck said of what that achievement means to him. “We’re having a fun time, it’s a great year, we know we have a lot more work ahead of us and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

Laine’s first goal, just 5:40 into the opening period, came off a nice feed from Ehlers. His shot went right through the five-hole of Carolina goalie Cam Ward, who will likely be seeing Laine in his nightmares for the next few days. Newcomer Joe Morrow picked up the other assist for his first point in three games since joining the Jets.

Another pair of Finnish stars helped the Hurricanes tie it up late in the period. Just seconds after Josh Morrissey stepped out of the penalty box for a slashing infraction, Teuvo Teravainen’s pass attempt went off Dmitry Kulikov and beat Hellebuyck. Sebastian Aho had the assist, giving him 100 points on his career.

Laine put the Jets back in the lead 2:37 into the second period only six seconds after Aho went to the penalty box for high-sticking Stastny in the face. Once again it was right through Ward’s legs.

Stastny made it 3-1 midway through the final period off a circus-like play. Laine fed Ben Chiarot, whose shot went off the crossbar, off referee Eric Furlatt’s shoulder and right on to the stick of Stastny, who fired it past a stunned Ward, who was still searching for the puck on the play.

“I didn’t see anything. Patty made a great play by keeping the puck alive, I thought (Chiarot) would at least look at us, but you know D-men: when they see the net they shoot,” said Stastny. “I just heard it hit post or crossbar, and then I literally didn’t know where it went. I didn’t see it hit the post, I just heard it, then all of a sudden I see it in front of me. Out of the corner of your eye you kinda see the goalie out of position.”

Stastny, who assisted on Laine’s second goal, now has two goals and two assists in the three games he’s played with Winnipeg. His goal proved to be the game-winner, as Jordan Stall scored with just over four minutes left to make it a one-goal game.

Winnipeg improves to 39-17-9 on the season, including 5-0-1 in their past six road games dating back to mid-January. The Jets remain in second place in the Central Division, six points back of Nashville and six up on Minnesota.

The road trip continues Tuesday when they face the New York Rangers.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg