New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) reacts as Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates after scoring with left wing Kyle Connor (81) and left wing Alex Iafallo (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored three goals, Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves and the Winnipeg Jets beat the New York Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Kyle Connor also scored for the Jets, who have won three straight and four of their last five. Winnipeg is 14-5-0 since Feb. 8 and 19-5-4 against the Eastern Conference this season.
“Any time you come into a game like this and the crowd gets into it, it has a more energetic feel,” said Hellebuyck, who improved to 16-4-2 against the East this season and is 32-15-3 overall. ”The guys in front of me were making it very easy for me.”
The Jets won for the fourth time in their last six visits to Madison Square Garden.
Alexander Wennberg and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the first-place Rangers, who lost for the second time in seven games.
Scheifele opened the scoring at 4:04 of the second when his shot dribbled past Igor Shesterkin, who made 23 saves.
Wennberg tied the contest with his first goal as a Ranger on the power play at 9:30 of the second. Wennberg was acquired from Seattle on March 6. He has 10 goals this season.
Connor put Winnipeg ahead when he whipped the puck past Shesterkin at 12:18 of the second with Braden Schneider in the penalty box. The goal was Connor’s 30th this season, the sixth time he has reached the milestone.
Scheifele scored his second goal of the night at 17:55 of the second, beating Shesterkin on a breakaway. Scheifele had 20 or more goals in nine-straight seasons, a franchise record.
“He’s been doing it all. His stats speak for themselves,” Hellebuyck said of Scheifele’s play. ”He’s been very reliable … You see a lot of…
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