Page 18 - ATODAY

A18 SPORTS
Monday 19 deceMber 2016

LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE OCCIDIENTAL HOTEL ON PALM BEACH

Ehlers scores 2,

Jets beat Ava-

lanche 4-1

Winnipeg Jets’ Dustin Byfuglien that was the difference in
(33) sends Colorado Ava- the hockey game,” Pick-
lanche’s Cody McLeod (55) to ard said. “When we’re
the ice during first-period NHL
hockey game action in Win- hard pressed to score
nipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Dec. goals I have to come up
18, 2016. with another big save.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) “It’s a lot of fun always
-- Nikolaj Ehlers isn’t partic- coming back to Winnipeg
ularly interested in personal and seeing friends and
accolades. family, and playing in front
Ehlers scored twice to lead of them.” Laine opened
the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-1 the scoring at 7:06 of the
victory over the Colorado second, taking a pass from
Avalanche on Sunday. Scheifele for a one-timer
“All I care about is how on a 2-on-1 rush for the
the team is doing, and the 18-year-old rookie’s 18th.
personal comes second,” Laine is in third in the NHL
the second-year forward in goals, trailing only Pitts-
said. “But it’s not that I’ve burgh’s Sidney Crosby (21)
been feeling like I haven’t and Boston’s David Pas-
played well. I feel really trnak (19). “(Scheifele) is a
good and am playing with really good passer. He got
a lot of confidence, and the pass to me and it was
just playing the game and easy to score,” Laine said.
it has worked out.” “I knew he was going to
Patrik Laine had a goal pass so I had to be ready.”
and two assists and Blake Wheeler’s ninth of the sea-
Wheeler also scored for son came on a 2-on-1 rush
the Jets. Mark Scheifele as Mathieu Perreault set
had two assists and Con- him up at 2:54 of the third.
nor Hellebuyck stopped Ehlers made it 3-0 at 4:03.
27 shots to improve to 12- After Iginla pulled the Av-
10-1 this season. Ehlers has alanche within two with
three goals in the last four 2:01 remaining, Ehlers had
games after snapping a an empty-netter in 30 sec-
15-game drought. “He’s a onds to go. NOTES: The
guy when it rains it pours. Jets’ penalty kill, which
He creates a lot of oppor- has struggled this season -
tunities,” Wheeler said of 28th in the league at 75.6
his linemate. “It was nice to percent entering Sunday -
see him get a good look at killed off two of three Colo-
the goalie and put it where rado power plays. The Jets
he wanted to.” have now allowed nine
Jarome Iginla had a pow- power-play goals in their
er-play goal for Colorado, last five games, including
and Calvin Pickard had a 3-for-3 effort by Florida
26 saves while making his on Thursday night. ... Win-
first career NHL start in his nipeg, fourth in the Central
hometown. Division, improved to 10-1-
“That lapse in the third 0 when leading after two
period, I don’t know how periods and increased its
quickly they scored the two lead over last-place Colo-
goals, but it was quick and rado to 10 points.q