The Winnipeg Jets did not give themselves much of a chance at all on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Jets dropped a 5-3 decision to Carolina as Winnipeg wrapped up a six game homestand in which they posted a less than stellar record of 1 win and 5 losses.
Now the Jets head out on the road for a pair of games against central division opponents.
Before some fans could even take the first sip of their beer, the first of bite of their pizza or handful of popcorn the Hurricanes had opened up a commanding 3-0 lead.
Phillip Di Giuseppe opened the scoring 1:43 into the game on a goal assisted by Victor Rask.
A little more than a minute later Andrej Nestrasil made it 2-0.
Four minutes and thirty-three seconds into the game Jordan Staal fired a shot that went off the post and beat Connor Hellebuyck who was making his 12th straight start.
That made it 3-0.
Hellebuyck allowed three goals on six shots and got pulled after the third one crossed the goal line.
Michael Hutchinson, who hadn’t played since January 3rd, took the crease in relief of Hellebuyck.
Justin Faulk scored off a rebound midway through the first period with Hutchinson in goal to make it 4-0.
Alexander Burmistrov got the Jets on the board in the second period to make it a 4-1 game.
Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien each scored in the third to pull the Jets within striking distance of the lead but any hope of a comeback evaporated late in the period when Nestrasil potted his second goal of the game to help lift the Hurricanes to a 5-3 victory.
With their homestand behind them the Jets now head out onto the road where they will play eight of their next ten.
It all starts Saturday night with a meeting against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver followed by a game in St. Louis on Tuesday.
