Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/blackhawks-avoid-season-sweep-with-5-2-win-over-jets-413469473.html

Chicago shows its strength Jets fail to secure season sweep as Blackhawks roll through Winnipeg By: Mike Sawatzky Patrick Kane had been the quiet man in four losses to the Winnipeg Jets this season. On Friday night, the Chicago Blackhawks ace, who had managed only three assists in four games against the Jets in 2016-17, broke out with a vengeance. Kane scored the opening goal on a brilliant one-timer that went off the post and behind Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the first period. He later triggered the play that resulted in Artem Anisimov’s go-ahead marker in the second period. The Jets were chasing the game from that point and the Hawks, thanks to Duncan Keith’s goal early in the third period and a pair of late empty-netters from Marian Hossa and Artemi Panarin, rolled to a 5-2 victory at the MTS Centre. "I think we had a great first (period), that’s the way we want to play right there, that was fun," said Kane. "Every line was going, we had a couple good power plays. We didn’t score on them, but had some chances, got the lead and great period overall. "That’s the way we want to play." The Jets (25-28-4) have lost three games in a row and are six points out of the final wild-card playoff berth in the Western Conference. They have given up three goals or more in 14 consecutive games. "If we knew all the answers we wouldn’t be in this position," said Jets centre Bryan Little, who scored to tie the game 1-1 early in the middle frame. "It seems like it’s been like that a lot of the year. We get a couple of wins, it feels like we’re playing well and we follow it up with a couple of losses. So it’s been kind of a battle like that all year to keep about .500 or close to .500. "We’re going to have to find some consistency if we’re going to have a chance here." The Hawks, who improved to 34-17-5, are second in the Central Division, five points behind the front-running Minnesota Wild. Winnipeg centre Adam Lowry had a power-play marker in the third —his third goal in three games after a 21-game drought — but it was too late and a strong effort by Hellebuyck was wasted.

Hellebuyck had not started since beating the Hawks 5-3 Jan. 26 and Jets head coach Paul Maurice was pleased with his work. "Real good. Busy overall early, which is tough," said Maurice. "You’d love to see him ease into a game, but that was exactly similar to the game in Chicago. It was lots of action early in the game. "It settled out and we trailed by one and we found a way to get one at the four-minute mark instead of giving one up at the 3½-minute mark and that was the difference in the game. "We probably had more offence in this game then we did there and probably we got less, but a couple of real good saves, missed the net on a couple — couldn’t get a handle around the front of the net." Hellebuyck was pleased with his performance. "Like I’ve been saying, I’m going to go out and play my game," said Hellebuyck, who finished with 31 saves. "I’m not going to change. I’m going to get back to what makes me me. "Not only was I tracking (the puck), but reading the play pretty well. Not falling behind it, but reading the play and getting ahead of it." Corey Crawford had 28 stops in the Chicago net. "We did what we had to in the third," said Kane. "We kind of shut it down, didn’t give them too many chances (and) when we did, we had some great saves by (Crawford) so it was a great game all around tonight." The Jets play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at 6 p.m. and Hellebuyck seems likely to start again. "I’ll talk to him, see how he’s doing," said Maurice. "I’ll make that decision (today). I’ve got no problem going back with him if he’s feeling strong and good. He’s had lots of rest so he’d have a back-to-back and then two days off." A quick turnaround to play the Lightning was just fine with Little. "We regroup (today)," he said Little. "It’s kinda nice that we play right away again and try to get something going. "We’re desperate for points right now and we need to get on a roll. We’re all glad to put this behind us and try and get a win (today)." NOTEWORTHY Jets prospect Jordy Stallard, a 19-year-old Brandonite playing for the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League, is out for the season after shoulder surgery. Stallard was a fifth-round pick by Winnipeg in the 2016 draft. First-rounder Logan Stanley, a defenceman playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, could be out for four months after suffering a torn meniscus.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/blue-line-shuffle-deals-in-chiarot-413475523.html

Blue-line shuffle deals in Chiarot By: Mike McIntyre Ben Chiarot’s return to the lineup has given the Winnipeg Jets blue line a makeover — and perhaps a bit of a breather for their most relied-upon defenders. Head coach Paul Maurice has been reluctant to let his third pairing see much ice lately, especially when his squad is chasing the game. A perfect example was Tuesday night against Minnesota, when Paul Postma and Mark Stuart barely played a combined 14 minutes in a 4-2 loss. That put a major onus on Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, Toby Enstrom and Josh Morrissey, who combined for nearly 100 minutes. Chiarot missed 12 games with injury but was back in action Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, partnered with Postma and sending Stuart to the press box. "It’s always a little unknown with a guy coming in off an injury how he is in the first 10 minutes. Hopefully, we get him out there and he gets into a comfortable groove," Maurice said prior to the game. "He and Paul have played together. There’s a known factor in that game. We just want him to play this one as simple as he can. Be physical, he’s a big strong young man. Close the gap well and move the puck as quickly as he can." Maurice didn’t exactly ease Chiarot back, giving him more than six minutes of ice in the first period, including some key deployment on a pair of penalty kills. He would finish the game with 12:44, while Postma had 8:32. Although it was much less than the Big Four played, their contributions at least helped ease the burden a bit. Chiarot, for his part, isn’t counting his ice time and is just happy to be back in whatever role he’s needed. "It’s an important part of the year. You want to be on the ice with the team and helping and contributing. It’s tough sitting there watching. It’s not fun being injured and not being able to do your job can be really frustrating at times. I’m excited to be back," he said. "You just do what the coaches ask. It’s not something I think about too much. It’s just the job you’re given, try and go out and do it to the best of your ability. Just be a good soldier and just listen to what the coaches want." Chiarot wouldn’t reveal specifics on his lower-body injury except to say it was caused by "taking a bunch of whacks on a certain area, that built up over time." His endurance is going to be tested by playing back-to-back, with the Jets facing the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at the MTS Centre.

"I actually like it better. It’s two games quick, back-to-back, there’s not time in between games where you’re thinking about things, its just right back into the next game. It should be good," he said. Maurice also switched around his other defence pairings this week by putting Byfuglien with Enstrom and Trouba with Morrissey. Byfuglien had played most of the year with Morrissey, while Trouba and Enstrom had been a steady tandem. Maurice said it’s all about giving the players and team a few different looks and options. In Byfuglien’s case, he said he hopes the big blue-liner starts taking some more offensive risks. "You haven’t seen him up the ice and around the back of the net nearly as often. We still want him to," Maurice said Friday. "He may have taken his game to maybe err on the side of caution. There’s a lot of good in that. There’s also some things that aren’t good in that. We want to move Dustin a little bit off that conservative style of play." In Morrissey’s case, he is hoping to see how the rookie looks with another young defender in Trouba. "We’re really happy with Josh Morrissey. His consistency level has been fantastic," said Maurice. "Josh has got to the point now where he doesn’t need Dustin." He believes the new pairing may allow Morrissey to show the kind of offensive upside he’s capable of. "It’s going to allow Josh a little bit of room to do some of those things that we really truly believe were his original strength on drafting," said Maurice. Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/02/10/blackhawks-captain-toews-production-on-the-rise

Blackhawks captain Toews' production on the rise BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN The games are getting more important and the production for Jonathan Toews is on the rise. The Chicago Blackhawks captain has been known throughout his career for elevating his game when it matters most, so it should come as little surprise the Winnipegger has picked things up after a slow start offensively. Toews went into Friday's game against the Winnipeg Jets with 11 goals and 33 points in 44 games, but he's got four of those goals (including two game-winners) and 11 points during the previous seven games. I don't know, I've just been moving my feet. That's something I've been trying to tell myself,” said Toews, the third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft. “To keep my feet moving and protect the

puck. If I play a heavier game down low and not give up pucks too much in the corners. If you do that, plays develop.” Toews continues to pose match-up challenges for opposing coaches as well. “When he plays against your best – and they have the opportunity to get him out there an awful lot against your best – he can limit them completely and still score,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “He's the two-way guy with offence. When you watch his video, especially in the playoffs, shift after shift, his focus is incredible. He's not going casually into a faceoff ever. When the puck is in his end, he's not looping up high saving energy and trying to break the game up. He does the right thing in the situation that he's in more consistently than most players. And enjoys it.” Toews also showed his sense of humour when he was asked about Jets centre Mark Scheifele trying to model his game after him. “I don't think he's been modelling himself after my offensive production the last little bit,” said Toews. “He's been lighting it up and is part of the young group in their locker room that has a tremendous amount of talent. He's one of those guys that when he came into the league that he was going to be a future talent and he's not taking his time showing it.” CHIAROT ACTIVATED The Jets activated defenceman Ben Chiarot from injured reserve on Friday and he returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with an upper-body injury, starting the contest on the third pairing with Paul Postma. In order to make room on the active roster, the Jets placed defenceman Julian Melchiori on waivers, with the purpose of returning him to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/02/11/jets-in-danger-zone-after-loss-to-hawks

Jets in danger zone after loss to Hawks BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN WINNIPEG - Slip, sliding away. That's where the Winnipeg Jets already slim playoff chances seem to be heading. Thanks to a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night at MTS Centre, the Jets have dropped three consecutive games. “We've got to try and get something going,” said Jets centre Bryan Little, who scored his 16th goal of the season. “We're desperate for points right now. We need to get on a roll a bit. We're glad to put this behind us and try to get a win (Saturday).” The Jets continue a four-game homestand on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Minnesota Wild on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center.

Stacking losses on top of each other at this time of the year are costly for most teams who haven't had any separation from the pack and the Jets certainly don't have that luxury. After winning three games in a row for the first time this season, they've dropped three in a row for the fifth time this season. That simply can't happen to a team currently six points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With 25 games left in the regular season, the Jets are looking for ways to stop the bleeding. For the Jets, the struggle for consistency is real and the failure to correct the problem at this stage is the season has been part of the reason the Jets can't seem to get back – or over the .500 mark. “If we knew all the answers, we wouldn't be in this position,” said Little, who has 30 points in 34 games this season. “It seems like it's been like that a lot of the year. We get a couple of wins, it feels like we're playing well and then we follow it up with a couple of losses. It's been kind of a battle, to keep above .500 or close to .500. “We're going to have to find some consistency for us to have a chance here.” Jets head coach Paul Maurice was asked one more time to try and explain the lack of consistency from his group. “There are factors to it. Anything that I say is going to sound like an excuse so I really don’t want to make them,” said Maurice. “The ability to drive and dominate, to get on any kind of runs, one piece of your game has to be elite at different times. So you’re goaltender has to get real hot for a few games and then special teams have to get hot for a few games and then that ability to drive in night in and night out gives you that. Yeah there’s some consistency that’s not there in our game, that’s true.” It was going to be nearly impossible for the Jets to sweep this five-game season series against a proud Blackhawks team that has won three Stanley Cups since 2010 and was already somewhat annoyed at being 0-4 in the season series. The score was flattering to the Blackhawks, thanks to a pair of empty-net goals in the latter stages of the game, but there was little question they deserved to win. Adam Lowry had the other goal for the Jets, his 10th of the season and third in the past three games after snapping a 21-game drought. The Jets had ample scoring chances and prime opportunities to cash in, but they either misfired in tight or were thwarted by Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, who finished with 28 saves and won his 22nd game of the season. Speaking of goalies, Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck made his first start and second appearance since beating the Blackhawks 5-3 on January 26, giving up three goals on 34 shots.

Since blanking the Calgary Flames on January 9, the Jets have give up three or more goals in 14 consecutive games. For eight of those games, Ondrej Pavelec was between the pipes, Hellebuyck has been in for four (and pulled from two) and Michael Hutchinson was in for three. In the game against the Arizona Coyotes, both Hellebuyck and Hutchinson gave up three goals a piece. No matter who is in net, it's tough for any team to win when you give up three or more. Hellebuyck did his job in this one, keeping his team in the game and giving them a chance to hang around. Despite only having one relief performance of nearly 30 minutes on Tuesday against the Wild, Hellebuyck looked calm and mostly sharp in the net. “Like I've been saying, I'm going to go out and play my game. I'm not going to change. I'm going to get back to what makes me me,” said Hellebuyck. “Not only was I tracking (the puck), but reading the play pretty well. Not falling behind it, but reading the play and getting ahead of it.” A long slapper from the left point from Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith looked like a weak one, though Hellebuyck said it was a shot that came through a screen and he didn't see it until it was too late. While Maurice wouldn't come right out and say it, there's a good chance Hellebuyck will be back in the blue paint on Saturday against the Lightning. This is a prime opportunity for Hellebuyck to show he can handle the workload of a No. 1 netminder during the stretch run. It sounds like he's up for the challenge, but now it's up to him to show it. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/02/10/five-keys-to-jets-vs-lightning

Five keys to Jets vs. Lightning BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN Five keys to a Jets victory D IS FOR DISCIPLINE Despite missing several key offensive weapons, the Lightning power play hasn't really missed a beat and entered Friday's action eighth in the NHL with the man-advantage. When the Jets earned a 6-4 victory in Tampa on January 3, the Lightning went two-for-seven on the power play. CAPTAIN LEADS THE WAY Jets captain Blake Wheeler has put together another strong offensive season, chipping in 16 goals and 46 points in 56 games going into Friday's action. He's produced eight goals and 25 points in 28 career games against the Lightning, so he'll be looking to lead the way on Saturday.

CHECKING-PLUS UNIT The Jets' third line of Adam Lowry between Shawn Matthias and Joel Armia has combined for 20 goals and 35 points, which is not a bad total when you consider Matthias and Armia combined to miss 49 games due to injury this season. CONTAIN KUCHEROV Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is having an outstanding season, leading his team is goals (21) and points (49) while continuing to grow as a player. Kucherov has four goals and nine points in seven career games against the Jets, including two goals against them last month. WATCH THE MINUTE-MUNCHER Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman is a guy who finds himself right in the midst of the discussion for the Norris Trophy this season. Hedman had seven goals and 42 points in 51 games going into Friday's action while averaging 24:31 of ice time. He's great in all three zones. The big match-up Nikolaj Ehlers vs Jonathan Drouin These former teammates with the Halifax Mooseheads are loaded with talent and help make those around them better. The slick wingers have taken big strides this season, taken on larger roles with their respective teams and are showcasing their talents on a regular basis. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/02/10/lemieux-a-chip-off-the-old-block-for-moose

Lemieux a chip off the old block for Moose BY PAUL FRIESEN, WINNIPEG SUN It's a Friday night in early February, and Winnipeg's “other” pro hockey team isn't exactly packing them in. Somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 people have turned up in the 15,000-seat home of the Jets to watch the Manitoba Moose, a collection of NHL prospects and career American Leaguers struggling to compete in hockey's top minor-league circuit. Among the parents there to check out a couple of can't-miss future Jets, and the kids with their eyes on mascot Mick E. Moose, is a man whose attention is fixed on one player, in particular. Claude Lemieux, ex-NHLer, player agent and father, is here to see his client and son, Brendan, in his first pro season with the Jets farm team. One way or another, Lemieux watches virtually every game Brendan plays, but this is his first trip to Winnipeg this season. His son, a thick, 6-foot-1, 210-pound, left-shooting version of himself, isn't exactly turning the AHL on its ear, with eight goals and four assists in 41 games. At this point of the season, though, he does lead the team in penalty minutes, with 86, which suits dad just fine.

“He needs to play hard,” Claude Lemieux, seated at a table in the concourse between periods, says. “He needs to be physical. But the game has changed a bit at the next level. A little push, a guy falls down – it's a two-minute penalty. So you've gotta learn to clean your game up.” It appears Brendan has done that. After a junior career that saw him suspended five times in the OHL, three times in his final season, Lemieux has yet to run afoul of the AHL's disciplinary department. “And, knock on wood, I don't think he will,” Claude said, giving the round table before him a single rap with his knuckle. “He's playing within the rules. And it's a different game. He's not being targeted. He's another player.” If Brendan carried the Lemieux reputation into the AHL – his junior career suggested he might become the most hated player in hockey since his dad – he at least hasn't run it up the flag pole for all to see by belting someone from behind or putting his shoulder into an opponent's head. His dad's advice, which he seeks after every game, has had something to do with that. Late last season when he left the OHL to play the last five games with the Moose, Brendan was ready to barge into pro hockey the way he'd barged into junior. “His first game he was pretty high,” Claude recalled. “And I said, 'It's not gonna last, playing that way. It's nice to be physical, but you've got to play hockey.' “He needed to learn to pace himself. You get a reputation, that's hard to change.” Brendan has made no bones about wanting to play just like his dad, the agitator and the winner – Claude won four Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, retiring ninth, all-time, with 80 playoff goals. He also makes no bones about his fiery impatience. “I lean on the side of being over-physical, over-energetic,” the 20-year-old says. “That's just my nature. I'm the type of person that has to wind myself down. I don't struggle at all to get excited for games. “Being more patient in my game is one of the biggest things I've learned this year.” After 41 and 32-goal seasons in junior, he's also learned how hard it is to score goals at the pro level, even in the AHL. “I never imagined that 40 games in, our leading scorer would have 12 goals,” Brendan says. “It changes your perspective on how you're going to play each night.” The Moose, stocked with young pros and unwilling to bring in veteran, hired guns to add pop to the lineup, are one of the most offensively challenged teams in the AHL, often scoring just once or twice a game. Claude Lemieux senses the frustration in those late-night, post-game texts from his son.

“So I say in those games, 'Take pride in your defensive game, not giving up anything,' ” Claude says. “He's learned. 'Do what they tell you to do' -- that's my best advice.” What they're telling him to do is learn the finer points of play without the puck, while honing a net-front presence and touch Moose coach Pascal Vincent says is among the best he's ever seen. “I'm no different than any other dad – I want to see him play in the NHL,” Claude Lemieux says. “But I know it's a process. I spent my time in the American League. “When it's meant to be, it'll be.” Lemieux surprised by trade from Buffalo Buffalo looked like a good fit for Brendan Lemieux when the rebuilding Sabres called his name in the second round of the 2014 draft. But within seven months he'd been traded to Winnipeg, part of the six-player blockbuster that saw the Jets unload Evander Kane. “We never asked for a trade,” Lemieux's agent and father, Claude, told the Winnipeg Sun, refuting reports of the time. “We just didn't sign early on like maybe others would. We were surprised like everybody. Had no idea. He looked at Buffalo as a team that he could get a really good opportunity. “Then he came here with the same mindset.” After a training camp injury, Brendan was sent down to the AHL's Manitoba Moose this season, where he's been slow to find his scoring touch. He says he's improved dramatically in other areas, and his coach agrees. “His understanding of the speed of the game is much better,” Pascal Vincent said. “At 23, 24, what is he going to look like -- who knows? But he's a big kid now and he's got a presence.” Lemieux's dad, a veteran of 17 NHL seasons, has taught him the game since he began skating as a kid in New Jersey. When Claude went from the Devils to the Coyotes, Brendan played with Auston Matthews as a young tyke in Phoenix. To this day, he wants feedback from his dad after every game. “We've had our battles over the years,” Claude said. “But as he's maturing, he's understanding it's always for his best. I tell him: 'Just go live it. It's your career, not mine. I'm done. Do it your way. And make sure you have no regrets.'” NHL.com https://www.nhl.com/news/chicago-blackhawks-winnipeg-jets-game-recap/c-286648868

Blackhawks defeat Jets, win fourth straight Artemi Panarin gets goal, two assists; Chicago avoids season sweep by Scott Billeck / NHL.com Correspondent WINNIPEG -- Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists to help the Chicago Blackhawks to their fourth straight win, 5-2 against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre on Friday. Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who are 4-1-0 on their six-game road trip, which ends Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. The Blackhawks (34-17-5) avoided a season sweep by the Jets. They were outscored 14-5 in the first four games. "I think it's even more important that, you know, we were in the same position against them the last time, up a goal in the third, and didn't get the job done," Kane said. The Jets (25-28-4) lost their third straight game and fourth straight at home. Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa scored for the Blackhawks, and Corey Crawford made 28 saves. Kane's first-period goal was the 269th of his NHL career, passing Tony Amonte for most by a United States-born player in Blackhawks history. Bryan Little and Adam Lowry scored for the Jets. "I thought we had a bit of a slow start," Little said. "I thought they came out hungry and controlled a lot of the play early in the game and got that goal right away. I thought we did a good job in the second and the third battling back and getting our chances and making it a close game." Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves for Winnipeg. It was his first loss in five starts against the Blackhawks this season. Kane scored at 15:37 of the first period to make it 1-0. "We did what we had to tonight, scored a late goal, big goal there by [Keith] and couple empty-netters," Kane said. "[It] feels good to beat these guys, especially after they've had the success they've had against us." Little tied the game 1-1 at 1:43 of the second period, picking up a rebound off Toby Enstrom's point shot and chipping it past Crawford for his 16th goal. Anisimov made it 2-1 at 12:16, getting his stick on a rebound from Panarin's shot from the top of the circle and directing it past Hellebuyck for his 19th of the season. Keith scored at 17:01 of the third period to make it 3-1. Hossa scored his 20th shorthanded into an empty net at 18:09.

Lowry made it 4-2 at 18:49 on the power play. Panarin scored into an empty net at 19:44. Goal of the game Anisimov forced a turnover by Blake Wheeler near the Jets blue line and got the puck to Panarin, who made a cross-ice pass to Kane for his 18th goal. Save of the game With the Blackhawks leading 2-1 in the second period, defenseman Brent Seabrook cleared a puck that was trickling through the legs of Crawford and approaching the goal line. Highlight of the game Crawford sprawled out to get his right pad on Mathieu Perreault's attempt at a wide-open net at 13:21 of the first period. Unsung performance of the game Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson had six blocked shots, was plus-5 and had an assist in 24:11. They said it "We've been trying to find that part of our game, whether it's the defensemen incorporating into the rush, jumping off points. Our possession zone time has been way more effective and more dangerous with chances made off the rush. You don't have to defend as much." -- Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville on playing more offensively "We regroup [Saturday]. It's kind of nice that we play right away again and try to get something going. We're desperate for points right now and we need to get on a roll. We're all glad to put this behind us and try and get a win [Saturday]." -- Jets forward Bryan Little "There are factors to it. Anything that I say is going to sound like an excuse so I really don't want to make them. The ability to drive and dominate, to get on any kind of runs, one piece of your game has to be elite at different times. So your goaltender has to get real hot for a few games and then special teams have to get hot for a few games and then that ability to drive in night in and night out gives you that. Yeah, there's some consistency that's not there in our game, that's true." -- Jets coach Paul Maurice Need to know Hossa scored 20 goals for the 15th time in his NHL career. … Winnipeg has allowed at least three goals in 14 straight games. What's next Blackhawks: At the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, WGN, NHL.TV) Jets: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN, SUN, NHL.TV) Canadian Press

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nhl/chicago-blackhawks-top-line-goes-on-spree-in-beating-winnipeg-jets-5-2

Chicago Blackhawks’ top line goes on spree in beating Winnipeg Jets 5-2 By Darrin Bauming, The Canadian Press WINNIPEG — The Blackhawks’ trio of Patrick Kane, Artem Anisimov, and Artemi Panarin did the majority of the damage Friday night as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 at MTS Centre. Kane, Anisimov, and Panarin each scored and combined for seven points, while Duncan Keith’s goal late in the third period proved to be the game winner. Marian Hossa also scored. The goaltenders were busy in the fifth and final meeting of the season between these two Central Division rivals, as Chicago’s Corey Crawford captured his 22nd victory of the season with 28 saves, while Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck turned away 31 of the 34 shots he faced. Bryan Little’s 16th goal of the season — coming in just his 34th game of the season — tied the game in the second period, and Adam Lowry scored his 10th with 1:11 remaining in the game. Kane opened the scoring at 15:37 of the opening period with his 18th of the season, firing a one-timer off Panarin’s long cross-ice feed to beat Hellebuyck low glove side. Kane’s 269th-career goal passes Tony Amonte for the most all-time goals by an American in Blackhawks history, and into sixth in all-time franchise goals. Little found the equalizer for Winnipeg at 1:43 of the second, quickly grabbing a net-side rebound off a Tobias Enstrom point shot. Anisimov scored late in the second, as Kane set up Panarin for a one timer and Anisimov buried the rebound, moving him into a brief tie with Hossa for the team lead in goals at 19. Keith added his goal with less than three minutes remaining, scoring his fifth of the season on a point-blast to make it 3-1 Chicago. Hossa moved back into the team goal lead with a short-handed empty-netter, and Panarin added another into an empty net to ice it with 16 seconds left. Coming into the game, Winnipeg had been 4-0-0 against the Blackhawks this season, winning by a combined score of 14-5. This week, the Jets have lost their last two games at home against Central Division opponents, having previously been 6-0-0. Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/west-coast-bias-will-urgency-win-take-winnipeg/

West Coast Bias: When will the urgency to win take over in Winnipeg? By Mark Spector

Low On Jets Fuel Word in Winnipeg is that head coach Paul Maurice, who has one year remaining on his contract, will get an extension this summer regardless of whether the Jets make the playoffs. The feeling is that Maurice hasn’t been given good enough goaltending, which is true, and the overall patient approach in Winnipeg precludes firing a coach at this stage of the evolution. From outside the market, you want to ask “When IS it time to win?” When does the slow build morph into a playoff-worthy product? Is there any urgency at all in Winnipeg, where they’ll have made the playoffs only once in six years if they miss this spring? This season has been a goaltending nightmare, made worse by the fact defenceman Tyler Myers has played only 11 games. He had an undisclosed surgery — why wouldn’t a team just say what was operated on? — on Monday, and even though the Jets sounded hopeful he could return, no one returns in April and helps a playoff team after missing virtually the entire season. “Not having Tyler has had a big impact,” Maurice said. “It’s pushed (Dustin) Byfuglien’s minutes to a point where I don’t think it’s helped him. As a positive, I guess (Jacob) Trouba has picked up a lot more minutes in that role, but we’ve missed (Myers) greatly.” TSN.ca http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/laine-not-losing-sleep-over-his-last-performance~1054907

Laine not losing sleep over his last performance It's been a few days since Patrik Laine saw more time on the bench than the actual ice, but the rookie returned to his normal spot in the lineup on Friday and as Sara Orlesky explains, he's already put that loss behind him. TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINKS) http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/wiebe-a-hungry-hellebuyck-given-the-chance-to-play-out-the-season-1.669126

Wiebe: A hungry Hellebuyck given the chance to play out the season Ken Wiebe joins Hustler & Lawless to discuss how the injury to Ondrej Pavelec affects the Winnipeg Jets’ goaltending situation, and how Connor Hellebuyck can take backstop the Jets for the bulk of the rest of the season. www.winnipegjets.com

https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/trio-combines-for-seven-points-as-hawks-top-jets/c-286644208

Trio combines for seven points as Hawks top Jets Little, Lowry score; Hellebuyck stops 31 of 34 by Ryan Dittrick @ryandittrick / WinnipegJets.com

WINNIPEG - In many ways, it was a complete reversal of fortune. In their previous four meetings, the Jets allowed only five goals and were the dominant team in the win column as a result, grabbing all four on the strength of some timely goal scoring. This time, it was the Jets who were stifled offensively, while visitors finally found their touch around the Winnipeg net, as the Blackhawks took a 5-2 decision on Friday at MTS Centre. The difference, Blake Wheeler says, was how the Jets were playing from behind for a good chunk of the night, despite pouring 30 shots on Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. "It's a different game when you're chasing against these guys. They're pretty good coming back [defensively] when they get a lead. They make it tough to really generate a whole lot and skate well. The other games, for the most part, we were playing ahead so we were able to do that to us, but they kind of flipped it on us." It was a one-goal game for much of the night, but Duncan Keith put the Blackhawks ahead by two with 2:59 to play before a pair of empty-netters turned an otherwise close game into a lopsided contest on the scoreboard late in the third period. Adam Lowry scored late to make a bit closer, but the damage had been done. The Blackhawks' trio of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov combined for seven points (3G, 4A) in the victory. Bryan Little had the other goal for the Jets, while Connor Hellebuyck stopped 31 of 34 in an all-around excellent performance to give his team a chance. The Jets have now lost three straight, but will look to snap the skid on Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning make their only visit to Winnipeg this season. "We're desperate for points right now and we need to get on a roll. We're all glad to put this one behind us and try to get a win tomorrow." Trailing 1-0 entering the middle frame, the Jets evened things up just 1:43 in. Crawford made the initial save on Toby Enstrom's long bomb from the left point, but Little, who made a great play as he contended with the sprawling netminder, banged it home at the side of the net as he tumbled to the ice. With nine goals in his last 10 games, Little is now up to 16 on the year in this, his 34th game. Patrik Laine picked up the second assist. "I thought we had a bit of a slow start," Little said. "They came out really hungry and had a lot of the play early in the game, and got that goal. I thought we did a good job in the second and third battling back and getting our chances and making it a close game, but we just couldn't generate a lot with the goalie (pulled)." Slowly, Chicago took back the game and at 12:16 after applying some pressure in the offensive zone, the enemy's efforts paid off. Panarin hammered a shot into the pads after getting a great pass from Kane, but Anisimov was there to clean up the rebound, roofing a shot in tight as he fended off a check in the blue paint to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

The Jets came within inches of tying things up late in the period as a Wheeler shot snuck through the wickets, but Brent Seabrook hurried to the scene and swiped the puck off the goal line. "Right now we're trying to generate offence, but not do it at the cost of trading chances," said Head Coach Paul Maurice. "(The Blackhawks) were good getting pucks to the net early, but then it became more even with what we were giving up." Kane opened the scoring for the Blackhawks with his 18th of the year, from Panarin, at 15:37 of the first period. Panarin jumped on a loose puck after Blake Wheeler fumbled it near the benches, took down the far side and fed Kane with a great pass to the right circle. Kane made no mistake, firing a one-timer low and off the near bar past Hellebuyck. "The development of Patrick Kane's game has been so impressive the last two or three years," Maurice said. "Where it used to be about trading chances - and they like that because he's going to finish better than most - they compete hard now when they don't have the puck. That's a skill-set that you only see on a handful of guys. … Those two wingers (Kane and Panarin) are very elite." Hellebuyck, who was making his first start since Jan. 26 in Chicago, was otherwise unbeatable in the period, stopping 15 shots in all, including 10 in the first 11 minutes. He was, as Maurice alluded to during one of his off-day media sessions, more aggressive in the net, challenging shots and showing greater confidence in his ability. "I felt good," Hellebuyck said. "I'm just going to go out and play my game, and I'm not going to change it. I'm going to get back to what makes me, me." Maurice could not confirm if Hellebuyck would get the start again on Saturday, but he did say it was a possibility. https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--paul-maurice/t-277437442/c-49297703

POSTGAME | Paul Maurice Head coach Paul Maurice addresses the media post-game at MTS Centre https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--bryan-little/t-277437442/c-49297803

POSTGAME | Bryan Little Bryan Little's post-game comments following a 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--jacob-trouba/t-277437442/c-49297903

POSTGAME | Jacob Trouba Jacob Trouba reflects on the loss to Chicago https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--connor-hellebuyck/t-277437442/c-49297503

POSTGAME | Connor Hellebuyck Connor Hellebuyck talks about his 31-save performance in a 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--blake-wheeler/t-277437442/c-49297403

POSTGAME | Blake Wheeler Blake Wheeler's post-game comments following a 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks www.moosehockey.com http://moosehockey.com/news/recap-feb10/

Recap: Moose 2 at Cleveland 3 SO By Daniel Fink | Published: February 10, 2017 Manitoba Moose (18-23-3-3) at Cleveland Monsters (23-18-2-3) Friday, February 10, 2017 – Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH Scoring Summary 1 2 3 OT SO F Manitoba Moose 1 1 0 0 1 2 Cleveland Monsters 1 1 0 0 2 3 Shots By Period 1 2 3 OT F Manitoba Moose 13 14 13 1 41 Cleveland Monsters 7 13 8 3 31 Special Teams PP PK PIM Manitoba Moose 0/4 4/5 10 Cleveland Monsters 1/5 4/4 8 Goaltender Summary Goaltender MIN SA SV Manitoba Moose Eric Comrie 64:56 31 29 Cleveland Monsters Joonas Korpisalo 64:57 41 39 Goal Summary P TIME TEAM GOAL ASSIST ASSIST STR SCORE 1 11:37 CLE Markus Hannikainen (10) Dean Kukan (13) O. Bjorkstrand (10) PP 1-0 CLE 1 19:41 MB Patrice Cormier (6) Kyle Connor (8) JC Lipon (10) ES 1-1 2 3:58 MB Patrice Cormier (7) JC Lipon (11) Kyle Connor (9) ES 2-1 MB 2 11:02 CLE Dillon Heatherington (1) O. Bjorkstrand (11) T.J. Tynan (21) ES 2-2

SOW — CLE Daniel Zaar SO 3-2 CLE Game Story The Manitoba Moose (18-23-3-3) made their first visit to Quicken Loans Arena this season to take on the Cleveland Monsters (23-18-2-3) on Friday night. The Moose got on the attack quickly, carrying the play and outshooting the Monsters 4-1 until a parade to the penalty box broke up the five-on-five play. Cleveland took advantage of one of their three chances with the man-advantage as Markus Hannikainen broke into the zone and snapped a shot by Eric Comrie at 11:37 of the period. The Moose weren’t able to even things up on any of their three powerplay chances, but found an even strength equalizer late. Patrice Cormier jammed home a rebound to get the Moose on even footing with 18.2 seconds left in the first. Despite outshooting Cleveland 13-7, the Moose exited the period tied 1-1 with the Monsters. The Moose stayed hot in the early stages of the second frame. Cormier gave Manitoba its first lead with his second of the night 3:58 into the period. JC Lipon set up the Moose captain with a perfect feed off the rush and Cormier was able to redirect the puck past Joonas Korpisalo. Manitoba couldn’t build on the lead and Cleveland tied the game 11 minutes in. Dillon Heatherington snuck in on the rush and made a slick move to the backhand for his first of the season. The Moose penalty kill came up big late in the second, stopping two Cleveland powerplays in the final five minutes to reach the break tied 2-2. Despite numerous chances, neither team was able to find twine in the third. Comrie made eight stops in the frame while Manitoba pumped 13 shots toward Korpisalo. With moments left on the clock, the Moose manufactured two quick scoring chances, but the teams were destined for overtime. In extra time, both teams had some great looks, but saw the pucks whistle wide on their best chances. Cleveland outshot Manitoba 3-1 in overtime. In the shootout, Kyle Connor tallied for the Moose, but Oliver Bjorkstrand and Daniel Zaar scored for the Monsters as Cleveland took the 3-2 win. Quick Hits Patrice Cormier notched his second multi-goal game of the season. Kyle Connor tallied the first multi-assist game of his AHL career. Connor is 2/2 in shootouts this season. Game attendance was announced at 11,625. What’s Next? The Moose and Monsters take tomorrow off game action before their rematch Sunday afternoon in a 2 p.m. CT puck drop. Tune in to the action on TSN 1290 and moosehockey.com/listenlive beginning 15 minutes before game time.