Connor has 2 points, Jets hold off Avalanche

WINNIPEG -- Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist for the Winnipeg Jets in a 3-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Canada Life Centre on Saturday.

“I felt like we played a solid game,” Connor said. “They're obviously a dangerous team, and they like to wind it up. We just were aware of that and did a good job of (guarding against) that. And they were doing lots of switches, crossing drops, and I thought our D-zone was great. We're just kind of patient and help each other out, and are able to jump on a lot of plays.”

Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves for the Jets (27-28-10), who had lost two straight and have points in seven of nine (5-2-2). Mark Scheifele had two assists.

“I thought I was able to see pucks, and the rebounds were staying in front of me and they were cleaning them really well,” Hellebuyck said. “When you have everything to the outside and shot lanes that you see, it's a pretty easy job out there.

“I think if we play like this we’ve got a shot. Now we’ve just got to bring consistency and put that same effort on the ice every night and see what happens.”

Martin Necas scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 15 saves for the Avalanche (44-12-9), who’ve lost two of three after winning five straight.

“I just feel like we didn't really get there the first couple of periods like we wanted to,” Colorado defenseman Cale Makar said. “But I feel like we were better in the third, but I don't think we tested them enough around the net to get better opportunities.”

The Avalanche experienced an extended delay before their flight was permitted to take off from Seattle on Friday. The team spent eight hours on the tarmac, eventually arriving in Winnipeg at 11 p.m. local time, 14 hours before the matinee against the Jets.

“I think yesterday took a toll on our guys like when it comes to their legs,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “But the top guys who played a lot the other night, they just didn't have it. So hopefully we get our energy back. We get in at a pretty good hour tonight and get a day of rest tomorrow, and we'll turn the game over and go again against Pittsburgh.”

Makar said, “Stuff like that’s going to happen and it's obviously out of our control, but I felt like it was a good team-bonding experience. And unfortunately we got in late, but at the same time we're used to it. It’s like playing a back-to-back. You're flying into the next city and getting in late anyway. So, obviously (an) early game, but definitely not an excuse. I felt like we had our legs tonight, just not fully there, technically.”

Connor made it 1-0 at 2:05 of the second period. Scheifele stole a Nathan MacKinnon drop pass, carried the puck into the offensive zone and set up a trailing Connor for a wrist shot from above the left hash marks.

The goal gave Connor his fifth straight 30-goal season and eighth overall in the NHL, all with the Jets.

“I think players recognize how dangerous he is,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “I don’t know if everybody around North America recognizes how good, what a great goal-scorer he is. He has got an unbelievable release, and he has a knack for finding that open ice. And him and Scheifele with their chemistry. That puck comes off his stick in a hurry, and he is, as you saw tonight, it doesn’t take much, he just needs a lane to get that shot off. From my history here, the four years, if you watch him in practice or you watch him in games, he is a pure goal-scorer.”

Connor and Scheifele combined on the same goal for the 50th time this season.

“It’s a constant work in progress,” Connor said, “and it's something that [Scheifele and I] both take a lot of pride in, and pushing each other, and working at just tons of different areas where we can get better. And constantly talk to each other about what we're seeing. We've been able to play it together and kind of build that chemistry and work with each other. He's such a heads-up player, and everything matches the speed, the hands, can shoot the puck, as well. And it's just a lot of fun to learn from him and get to pick his brain in those situations as well.”

Iafallo made it 2-0 at 11:52. Scheifele’s one-timer from just inside the blue line hit him in the stomach at the edge of the crease, and he quickly tucked the loose puck around Blackwood.

Necas cut it to 2-1 at 18:44 of the third period, scoring with a one-timer from the left face-off circle to spoil Hellebuyck’s bid for his first shutout of the season.

“I didn't think we did, especially through the first half of the game, or the first period especially, we didn't get enough traffic or inside opportunities on them,” Bednar said. “And then we started to get some of them (at the) start of the second and then spurs after that. But I think we need to do more on the offensive side to score, but (Hellebuyck) certainly had a good night.”

Perfetti scored into an empty net at 19:18 for the 3-1 final.

NOTES: Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns played his 990th straight game since Nov. 21, 2013, passing Keith Yandle for the second-longest consecutive-games streak in NHL history. Phil Kessel is the all-time leader with 1,064. Burns has the longest active streak. … Connor passed Ilya Kovalchuk for the most 30-goal seasons in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history. … Scheifele reached 51 assists, setting an NHL career high (50 in 2016-17). He also has 81 points (30 goals), tying Kovalchuk for the most 80-point seasons in Jets/Thrashers history (four).