Kyle Connor had a hat trick and the Winnipeg Jets extended their win streak to five games with a high-scoring 7-4 victory against the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.
It was Connor’s second hat trick of the season and fourth of his NHL career. It also helped him reach the 20-goal mark for the sixth consecutive season.
Pierre-Luc Dubois had four assists for the Jets and David Rittich made 34 saves in the victory.
J.T. Miller had a three-point night for the Canucks, who were coming off a victory against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
Connor scored twice in the first period, first giving Winnipeg a 1-0 lead at 6:22 by ripping a wrist shot over the shoulder of Colin Delia. He then scored his 19th goal of the season to make it 2-0 at 7:59 of the period, beating Delia between the legs on a partial breakaway.
Miller countered for Vancouver at 15:14 of the period, and Jack Studnicka tied the game at 2-2 at 17:33 with his third goal of the season.
Winnipeg restored a two-goal lead, 4-2, early in the second period on goals by Nikolaj Ehlers and Morgan Barron, forcing the Canucks to make a goalie change after Delia allowed four goals on 13 shots.
Vancouver then charged back again on goals by Bo Horvat and Sheldon Dries, tying the game at 4-4 at 9:26 of the middle period.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby put Winnipeg ahead 5-4 with 1:43 remaining in the second period with a wrist shot from the circle.
Dylan DeMelo scored a short-handed goal to make it 6-4 5:29 into the third period, joining a rush and finishing a drop pass from Jonsson-Fjallby.
Connor completed the hat trick at 13:42 of the third period.
Spencer Martin stopped 11 of 14 shots in relief for Vancouver in the loss.
–Field Level Media