Connor plays OT hero once again

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This article was published 03/04/2018 (2719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — The kids were fine for a night on their own, although they had a seasoned veteran standing guard.

A few of Winnipeg’s talented youngsters led the way Tuesday in Montreal while a chunk of the team’s leadership group caught the game from the press box.

Rookie winger and former first-round draft pick, Kyle Connor, 21, scored his 30th goal of the season and third overtime winner in two weeks, Manitoba Moose call-up Sami Niku played his first NHL game and fired a memorable goal, and Patrik Laine closed the gap on his childhood hero for the NHL goal-scoring race as the Jets defeated the Canadiens 5-4 at Bell Centre.

Connor took a pass from Jack Roslovic and beat goalie Carey Price exactly three mintues into the three-on-three session to lift Winnipeg to its 50th victory of the 2017-18 campaign. He now has the NHL rookie goal-scoring lead, passing injured Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser.

Steve Mason had an impressive return to the Winnipeg crease, allowing four goals on 39 shots in his first game since March 6 but registering some tremendous saves. He missed the 13 games with a knee injury.

“It was nice, obviously, to get back out there from a personal standpoint,” Mason said. “The game was back and forth, we had that three-goal lead and let them back into it. But coming out in overtime is the big thing and it puts us in a position to keep fighting for first place in our division.”

Laine, with his 44th, Nikolaj Ehlers and Roslovic, all former first-round draft choices, hit the scoresheet to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

Laine is two goals behind Alex Ovechkin in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy, given annually to the NHL’s top goal scorer. A few hours before the game, Laine all but conceded it to the Capitals’ sniper.

“Yeah, it’s probably not a race any more. But it’s still fun. It’s been fun competing with him, just kind of chasing him the whole season,” said Laine. “Hopefully, better luck in the couple next games.”

Jets coach Paul Maurice elected to rest forwards Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry, defencemen Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

Mason said he’s blessed to be among the special mix of key veterans and top-end skilled youngsters.

“That’s going to help this organization for the long term, but it starts with the older guys, the top guys showing them the way. Our best players are also some of the best leaders, so it’s a good situation for everybody,” said Mason, 29.

“I’m trying to get back into the swing of things here. From the first puck drop, I felt comfortable and, overall, I felt happy with my game… just to make that first save and get that out of the way, you kind of just build off of that.”

The Jets (50-20-10) closed to within three points of Central Division- and league-leading Nashville (51-18-11) and could take top spot if they win their final pair of games and the Predators drop their last two.

Winnipeg, 3-1-0 on its last road trip of the season, returns home to face a pair of non-playoff squads, the Calgary Flames on Thursday and the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Nashville has two tough tests, the Washington Capitals on the road Thursday and then back home Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Connor misfired on a couple of good chances in Ottawa Monday night, but he made good on a perfect setup by Roslovic, another 21-year-old rookie.

“Kind of squeezing the stick a bit last game — (Scheifele) set me up a couple of times (against the Senators),” he said. “I thought we had an odd-man rush at the end and Jack made a great pass and I just tried to capitalize.”

Montreal got goals from Artturi Lehkonen, Paul Byron, Kerby Rychel and Alex Galchenyuk.

Niku, 21, called up from the Jets’ AHL affiliate Sunday, jumped on a loose puck and fired the go-ahead goal with just over nine minutes left in the third period. Galchenyuk tied it with a power-play goal at 18:18.

“Actually, I felt pretty good but of course I can play much, much better than I played today, but it was pretty good first game,” said the Finnish-born defenceman on his NHL debut. He even got a shift in the OT session. “Of course, it was really nice to play first game in Montreal, and Montreal is so big a hockey town, ya it was really nice to score a goal here.

“I saw the puck coming, then I shot and I think it was lucky, I think it hit their player’s leg and went in. It was nice.”

Paired with Dustin Byfuglien, Niku had some struggles at times in his own end but showed flashes of offensive excellence, leading the rush in OT and then hustling back to snuff out a Canadiens chance.

“Pretty good. We left the match-up playing against Montreal’s best, so there were some challenges in our own end, but we wanted to see him against good competition,” said Maurice, offering his assessment. ‘In the end, on the ice for a few (goals) but he had the confidence to get up on the rush and finish a play off and be a guy in overtime to create a really good scoring chance. There’s lots to like.”

Byfuglien was in the penalty box for slashing when Galchenyuk scored and then took a 10-minute misconduct for barking at an official when he got out.

“I think (Byfuglien) was upset about the high stick that happened to (Brandon) Tanev. The tap on the pants, you would have thought that one was left alone after (Tanev) was pulling his face off the ice,” said Maurice.

The night was a historic one for Price and the organization. The all-star goalie appeared in his 557th regular-season NHL game — all with the Canadiens — passing Jacques Plante for most by a Montreal goalie.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell