Hellebuyck nets shutout as Jets whip Wild 5-0

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot from Minnesota Wild's Marat Khusnutdinov (22) as Morgan Barron (36) defends during third period NHL action in Winnipeg on Dec. 21, 2024. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

Connor Hellebuyck made 19 saves for his NHL-leading fourth shutout of the season and 41st of his career to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 5-0 victory Saturday over the Minnesota Wild, who have lost four in a row.

Cole Perfetti had a goal and two assists and Nikolaj Ehlers and Neal Pionk each scored power-play goals in front of a capacity crowd at Canada Life Centre.

Morgan Barron and Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for the Jets (24-10-1), who are 4-1-1 in their last six games.

The Jets, who swept the clubs' three-game season series, sit in first place in the NHL Central Division, five points up on the Wild (20-10-4).

Jesper Wallstedt stopped 19 shots for Minnesota, which is 1-5-0 in its last six games.

Ehlers scored his 10th goal of the season six seconds after Minnesota took its first penalty at 6:45 of the first period.

Barron made it 2-0 with 2:06 left in the period when he banged in a puck that had went behind Wallstedt after an Alex Iafallo shot.

Pionk scored on Winnipeg's third power play of the game when his one-timer from the point beat Wallstedt 14 seconds into the man advantage to make it 3-0 at 5:19.

A Minnesota turnover gave Perfetti the puck in the slot and he fired it by Wallstedt at 2:07 of the third.

The Wild then took back-to-back tripping penalties, giving the Jets 21 seconds with a two-man advantage.

Wallstedt stood tall throughout the power plays, but seven seconds after it ended, Namestnikov tipped in a Pionk shot to go up 5-0 at 7:36.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2024.