Hutch helps Jets to 3-1 win over Lightning

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This article was published 30/01/2018 (2791 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Michael Hutchinson looked like a player who wanted to savour every moment in his surprising return to the big stage — and ensure there will be another one.

Banished to the minors at the start of the season with question marks swirling about if or when he’d get another shot at the NHL level, Hutchinson took to the ice at Bell MTS Place Tuesday night in what he hopes will be the start of a redemption story.

And what a compelling first chapter he wrote.

The 27-year-old capped off a long day of travel — even missing the morning skate as he made his way from Utica, N.Y., where he played in the AHL all-star game Monday — by stopping 23 shots in his 100th career NHL game as the Winnipeg Jets beat the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 to kick off a 10-game homestand.

“You always have a little bit of a chip on your shoulder with the way the season’s been going. But when you’re out there you don’t think about it at all. If you’re a little bit pissed off or anything, you can’t try and stop the puck harder. It’s just one of those things where you have to relax and react to it. I just felt relaxed out there,” Hutchinson said following the big win. “Last year I was pretty disappointed I didn’t get that 100th game. You know, starting the year off with the (Manitoba) Moose you’re wondering if you’re going to end up getting it this year. To get to that milestone is huge and definitely one I will look back on and really cherish.”

Winnipeg improves to 30-13-8 and remains on top of the Central Division. Tampa Bay falls to 34-13-3.

“It just means that we can play with the best. We’ve been confident in that, especially at home,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler, who had two assists. “We came into this game, it’s a little bit tough because we’re both coming out of a little bit of a break. But we still view it as a measuring stick to see where we’re at. It just shows, if we play that game, we give ourselves a chance to win.”

With No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck given an extra few days of rest and No. 2 goalie Steve Mason sidelined indefinitely with his second concussion of the season, opportunity came knocking for Hutchinson, playing in front of a team missing top centre Mark Scheifele and top-pairing defenceman Jacob Trouba due to injuries.

But rather than stay at home to prepare for his first NHL start of the season — and perhaps the biggest of his career considering he heads into free agency this summer — Hutchinson opted for a much busier schedule that had many locals fans and pundits questioning the logic of putting him between the pipes.

After returning early Friday from a California road trip with the Jets, Hutchinson was reassigned to the Moose and joined up the team on a road trip in Quebec. He played Saturday night in Laval, making 34 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Rocket, then went to Utica for Sunday’s skills competition and Monday’s game. He caught an early morning commercial flight Tuesday and arrived in Winnipeg just before noon.

“It wasn’t bad. It was a 5:30 wake-up call for a 7 a.m. flight. Flew to Chicago, then flew to here, got in at 11:45. So I got in at a good time. Had enough time to get a good meal in, get a good stretch, warm-up. My legs felt completely fine. Mentally I felt rested. I got a good sleep on the plane, so it didn’t really affect my game at all,” Hutchinson said.

He admitted there was some thought about pulling out of the AHL all-star game once he knew he’d be playing against the Lightning. But he ultimately decided to forge ahead.

“It’s my eighth year of pro hockey and I’ve never played in an all-star game before. They don’t happen every year. So who knows, I might never get another chance to play in one. So I felt it was good opportunity where I could make it and do both. I felt I could have success in both games,” Hutchinson said.

Fortunately his team came out with one of their best all-around efforts of the season. Sure, there were some nervous moments early in the game, including a couple of goalmouth scrambles where the puck just stayed out of the net. Tampa Bay also rang a couple shots off the post, perhaps showing luck would be on his side.

The Lightning opened the scoring in the final minute of the opening frame, as Matthew Peca got in behind the defence and roofed a shot over Hutchinson.

But the Jets turned it on and locked it down starting in the second period. With Braydon Coburn in the box for tripping, Chris Kunitz fired a puck into the crowd just 12 seconds into the ensuing penalty kill.

That gave the Jets an extended five-on-three, and they wasted no time. Wheeler fed a perfect cross-ice pass to Patrik Laine who made no mistake, connecting for his 23rd goal of the season. It’s also his 12th power-play tally, which ties him for the most in the NHL.

“It’s huge. You get that and it kind of changes the complexion of the game. Our power play has done a pretty good job all year of at least creating chances and creating momentum for our team. You get a five-on-three, you feel like you should score every time,” said Wheeler.

Kyle Connor made it 2-1 moments later, burying a rebound past Tampa Bay goalie Louis Domingue for his 16th goal and the game-winner. Bryan Little added some insurance with just over five minutes left in the third, sweeping in a rebound for his 11th of the season.

Tampa Bay hit another post late in the game but couldn’t do any more damage against Hutchinson. The Lightning finished 0-for-4 on the power play.

“We didn’t give up any odd-man rushes. Last year that was one of the things where we really tried to generate a ton of offence and we were able to do that, but on the flip side of that we had some pucks last year that seemed to just bounce over our sticks and come back the other way on odd-man rushes,” said Hutchinson. “I think Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in transition and generating odd-man rushes and I don’t think we gave up any. So that’s a real big step the team has taken. Defensively they’re blocking a ton of shots, the PK is great, it makes goalies’ reads a lot easier. So (Tuesday) was a pretty easy night for me.”

Now the question is when his next chance may come. Hutchinson was asked if he’s given the organization plenty to ponder with his performance.

“Who knows. We’ll see. You never know what’s going on in their heads. But I’m just here to show up every day and do my job and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

Winnipeg continues the homestand Thursday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg