Hellebuyck gets NHL-high 7th shutout, Jets defeat Devils for 50th win

WINNIPEG -- Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves for his NHL-leading seventh shutout of the season, and the Winnipeg Jets defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-0 at Canada Life Centre on Friday.

“I think it was a complete team effort -- perfect way to put it,” Hellebuyck said. “Everyone was playing their game, snapping it around, playing quick, hitting. Our details were great tonight. ... I just love shutouts, to be honest with you. That's why I play the game.”

Hellebuyck set a Jets/Atlanta Thrashers record for most shutouts in a season.

“[Hellebuyck] might be the best goalie in the in the world,” Devils defenseman Brett Pesce said. “He made some huge stops for them. I thought we had some opportunities -- Timo [Meier] hits a post on the power play, which could have made it 2-1. But they just don't give you much. They stick to their structure, they don't beat themselves. You know, it's a good hockey team.”

The Jets (50-19-4) became the first team to reach 50 wins this season and took a one-point lead on the Washington Capitals for first place in the NHL standings. Winnipeg, which has clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff berth, also widened its lead on the Dallas Stars to six points for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference.

Alex Iafallo scored twice, Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist, and Kyle Connor had two assists for the Jets.

“I think we're realizing we're really close to [the] playoffs, and we want to bring our playoff game every single night,” Hellebuyck said. “And this time of year is when you want to be playing your best hockey, and you feel your best when you play your best.”

Jake Allen made 15 saves for the Devils (38-29-7), who have lost four of five (1-3-1). They lead the Columbus Blue Jackets by eight points for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

“I didn't hate our game. You know, I thought our guys were right there,” New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We only give up under 20 shots against a really good team. But the sequences of the first two goals, and even the fourth one, too – we’ve got to do a better job there and then [we’ve] got to create more offense. That's the bottom line.”

Iafallo gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead 58 seconds into the first period when he took a Connor pass in the low slot, spun and sent a backhand past a sprawling Allen.

“[Iafallo] is a really smart player. I think you can see it out there,” Jets forward David Gustafsson said. “He adapts really good to what kind of situation he is in. He is always aware of what is the best play to make and he usually makes it too.”

Gustafsson made it 2-0 less than a minute later at 1:52. He jammed the puck in after Allen couldn’t control the rebound of a Brandon Tanev shot following a Devils turnover in their defensive zone.

“We gave them a couple of gifts early, and you're playing against a team that gives up the least amount (of goals) in the NHL,” Keefe said of the Jets, who allow an average of 2.34 goals per game. “And you're spotting them a 2-0 lead. It's tough sledding from there.”

Iafallo pushed it to 3-0 on the power play at 15:45 of the second period with his second of the game. He knocked down Nikolaj Ehlers’ pass with his glove at the edge of the crease and quickly banged the puck in.

“He's taken advantage of the opportunity,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said of Iafallo, who has moved up in the lineup with forward Gabriel Vilardi out because of an upper-body injury. “Getting the chance … to play a lot more, play in that top line, and then [Gustafsson] getting in the lineup, those are just situations of guys taking advantage of opportunities that have been put out in front of them. I think our group has done that all year, and that's helped with our success.”

Scheifele then extended it to 4-0 at 19:18, tucking the puck behind Allen at the left side of the net off the rebound of Connor’s shot that banked off the end boards.

“One of the best teams, if not the best team in the League,” Pesce said. “[We] kind of handed them two (goals) there and, well, that's the difference. … You give any good team a lead like that, they lock it down and they don't hurt themselves. And we did tonight.”

Devils defenseman Luke Hughes was scratched with a lower-body injury for precautionary reasons. He did not take part in the morning skate but did take the warmup.

“He wanted to play here today, but he's not at 100 percent,” Keefe said. “And there was a good chance that playing again today would have made it worse. With another game tomorrow (at the Minnesota Wild) and obviously games still to come, I just felt it was the right thing for him and our team to give him the night off. We'll reevaluate him tomorrow and see where he's at, but just call it day to day at this point."

NOTES: Hellebuyck became the ninth United States-born goaltender in NHL history with at least seven shutouts in a season. The last with more was Jonathan Quick (10 for the Los Angeles Kings in 2011-12). With 44 shutouts, Hellebuyck moved past Craig Anderson and into a tie with Ryan Miller for the second-most by U.S.-born goalie, behind Quick (63). … The Jets reached 50 wins in 73 games, the fastest they’ve achieved the milestone. … Scheifele had his 201st career multipoint game, passing Blake Wheeler for the most in franchise history. … Scheifele has an assist in each of his past four games. He ended a nine-game goal drought. … Connor (37 goals, 51 assists) became the third player in Jets/Thrashers history with at least 30 goals and 50 assists in a season, following Marian Hossa (2005-06 and 2006-07) and Scheifele (2016-17).