Jets fly into Boston

The Winnipeg Jets, owners of 30 victories in 44 games, are firmly entrenched in the elite class of the NHL’s Western Conference but not immune to injuries as they skate onto TD Garden ice tonight to face the Boston Bruins.

Mark Scheifele took the morning skate, but that was a positive sign for the Jets because it indicated the talented centerman is nearing a return from a lower-body injury.

A-I image by Daryl Vautour

FIRST PERIOD

The Bruins are up 2-1 after one period, getting goals from Jakub Lauko (from Trent Frederic and Morgan Geekie 2:20 in) for a 1-0 lead and from Charlie Coyle (tipped Hampus Lindholm’s slapper after a textbook zone-entry/cycle possession) at 18:26 for a 2-1 Boston lead.

In between, the well-traveled Vladislav Namestikov put the Avalanche on the board at 4:16 (meaning the game was tied for most of the first period – assists from Dylan DeMelo and Nikolaj Ehlers).

With 10 seconds remaining in the period, the Bruins won a faceoff in their own zone but turned the puck over and Charlie McAvoy was called for slashing Ehlers. So Winnipeg to the powerplay when the second period begins.

Shots are 6-6 after one.

SECOND PERIOD

Jets to the powerplay. They established in-zone possession, but an early block by Brandon Carlo and various disruptions kept the puck away from Swayman.

At the other end, Frederic drew a penalty on Winnipeg winger Nino Neiderreiter as Boston’s penalty expired. Bruins to the powerplay. Marchand lost the puck in between the right corner and right point and had to dive to disrupt what looked like a potential odd-man rush for the Jets.

Hellebuyck gets his stick arm on Pastrnak’s wrister from the right circle, then gobbles up DeBrusk’s shot off the rush from the left side. Penalty is over.

Danton Heinen resumes his effective puck hunting of late, this time freeing up Matt Poitras and Jesper Boqvist for a run at the Winnipeg net. But the Jets are good at getting bodies and sticks in the way of just about everything.

The Bruins got in trouble with a D-to-D, and Carlo had to dive to knocked the puck off Ehlers’ stick as he bore down on Swayman. As the puck popped loose, Dominic Toninato blasted a shot that Swayman turned away.

The Bruins got it and Pastrnak passed to Matt Grzelcyk to establish a four-man attack, but Grzelcyk crossed up the Jets by firing the puck right back to Pastrnak, who made a gorgeous pass across to Brad Marchand. But Hellebuyck stopped the shot.

The Bruins hemmed in the Jets as Pastrnak worked the puck low. The Bruins started getting changes, and James van Riemsdyk got a backhand from the slot that Hellebuyck stopped. Then Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo boarded Coyle and went to the penalty box.

Bruins powerplay: Not a great one. The Jets came back upon its expiration and made Swayman go hard right to stop a one-timer. The Jets poured on two more good shots, and Swayman did his work. Both he and Hellebuyck have turned this game into the kind where some sort of deflection or screen is needed.

2-1 on the scoreboard, shots are 14-9 Bruins, 4:21 left in the second period.

Bruins with another big shift, tiring out the Jets before Hellebuyck stopped Wotherspoon’s shot from the point.

The Bruins were called for a very slow icing – Neal Pionk even looked back while walking back on the puck – but the home team won the ensuing D-zone faceoff and Heinen did a nice job fielding a breakout pass and going 1-on-1 with the rugged DeMelo.

Time expires, no scoring the second (though some great action).

2-1 Boston and shots 15-10 Bruins after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

McAvoy lost the puck behind his own net, and Ehlers had a great chance to tie the game go wide of the left post. Swayman made it difficult for him.

Coyle got behind the Jets picket fence at the blue line, but the deflected pass was ruled offside.

Jets captain Adam Lowry joked earlier about his lack of blinding speed, but he did a good job staying ahead of Coyle dogging him up ice and set up a nice pass play that forced Swayman to make his 14th stop (shots now 16-15 Boston with 16:05 left).

Nate Schmidt tried to connect long distance with Ehlers, but the forward could not corral the pass.

Bruins steal and cross to Boqvist, but Hellebuyck makes it look easy.

Bruins survive a strong Jets shift, and the TDG crowd begins chanting up the home team.

Another strong shift, and Dylan Samberg hits the left post from the point.

McAvoy knocked down a Winnipeg forward, stripping him of his helmet. Even a hockey glove was on the ice, as the opponent gathered his belongings. McAvoy then walked into a puck drifting out to the right circle, but once again Hellebuyck has been as cool as Swayman.

Shots are only 18-18 with 9:55 to go in the third period, but this has been an excellent goaltending matchup.

Poitras shoveled the puck out of the Boston zone, and Lauko took off with it, getting tripped by Neiderreiter, who went to the penalty box with 7:32 remaining. The Jets try to entangle Wotherspoon in a postwhistle scrum in hopes of an even-upper penalty but no such call coming.

Bruins to the powerplay … on the ice: Marchand, Pastrnak, van Riemsdyk, McAvoy and Zacha.

Jets looking to kill with Lowry on the dot, Alex Iafallo, Brendan Dillon and DeMelo.

Pastrnak goes goalmouth for a rushing Zacha, but Hellebuyck disrupts the connection.

Lindholm called for interference on Pastrnak’s zone entry. Bruins got sloppy and it led up to this. 23 seconds of 4v4 hockey, followed by a 1:37 powerplay for Winnipeg.

Jets win the draw, Kyle Connor wiggles for a shot and misses. Bruins come back and DeBrusk slams home a rebound, tucking the puck inside the far post to make it 3-1 Boston with 5:25 remaining. There is 1:31 remaining on Lindholm’s interference penalty. Officially a short-handed goal for DeBrusk (from Morgan Geekie).

Jet on the powerplay and needing a goal. … keeping an eye on Hellebuyck.

Jets sustain possession in the Bruins zone, but Swayman gobbles up Morrissey’s shot from the point. 14 seconds left on Lindholm.

Swayman on Lowry at the doorstep. Penalty over, 3:06 left, Garden crowd getting loud.

Hellebuyck to the bench with 1:50 remaining.

Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said the Bruins were off in Winnipeg (where the Bruins got spanked 5-1 earlier in the season) and warned the real Bruins would play tonight. They have. The Jets didn’t have their top-line center (Mark Scheifele) tonight, but they’ve played a solid road game, just didn’t go their way.

Bowness calls timeout with 1:03 left.

Drive safely.