Thatcher Demko made 27 saves for his first NHL shutout as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the host Winnipeg Jets 4-0 Monday.
Demko notched his career milestone in his 52nd game. Vancouver ended Winnipeg’s winning streak at four games.
Nate Schmidt and Elias Pettersson each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks, while Adam Gaudette chipped in two helpers. Nils Hoglander and J.T. Miller each scored once.
Connor Hellebuyck made 15 saves for the Jets.
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The Jets outhit the Canucks 23-12 but the Canucks held the edge on shots blocked 15-6.
The Canucks scored two goals 18 seconds apart in the first period, on their second and third shots of the game. Jets center Mason Appleton blocked a shot from Gaudette. Brandon Sutter jumped on the loose puck and dished it over Schmidt, who blasted a one-timer from the point to beat Hellebuyck at 8:28.
At 8:46, Schmidt took another shot from the blue line and Miller tapped it out of the air in the high slot to deflect it into the Jets net.
The lone penalty of the first proved critical. Jets defender Neal Pionk slashed Pettersson on the hands and, with 30 seconds left in the power play, Hoglander knocked a flying shot from Tyler Myers into the net for the 3-0 lead at 14:50.
The Canucks carried that lead into the third period, despite giving the Jets a fighting chance when Gaudette took a slashing penalty. The Jets solved neither the Canucks defense nor Demko.
The Jets pulled Hellebuyck from his post with five minutes left, hoping the extra attacker would help them solve Demko. Instead, Pettersson dumped the puck into the empty net at 16:26 to end the scoring.
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–Field Level Media