Nino Niederreiter scores twice to lift Jets to 3-0 win over Utah

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Nino Niederreiter scored twice in his 900th NHL career game and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves to help the Winnipeg Jets defeat the Utah Hockey Club 3-0 on Tuesday night.

It was Hellebuyck’s second shutout of the season and 39th of this career.

Gabriel Vilardi also scored for the Jets. Adam Lowry assisted on both goals by Niederreiter.

Utah ended a run of picking up points in three consecutive games (1-0-2).

Karel Vejmelka stopped 25 shots for Utah in its second stop on a four-game road trip.

Jets winger Kyle Connor had his franchise-record, season-opening points streak end at 12 games.

Utah: The visitors had three power plays, but didn’t get a shot on goal in the first one and only forced Hellebuyck to make one stop in each of the next two. The Jets blocked 17 shots compared to Utah’s five.

Jets: Winnipeg had opportunities to fire at the net, but got derailed early on looking for the perfect setup until Josh Morrissey sent a blast from the point with Vilardi in front of the net.

Niederreiter lifted a Utah opponent’s stick in Winnipeg’s end, allowing the Jets to get the puck and head toward the visitor’s net. He then joined the rush, deked and put the puck around Vejmelka.

The Jets went 1-for-2 on the power play, giving them a power-play goal in six consecutive games. They entered the game tops in the NHL with the man advantage (44.1%).

Utah visits the Blues on Thursday, and the Jets host the Avalanche on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) scores on Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club's goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save as Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) looks for the rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club's Clayton Keller (9) and Winnipeg Jets' Josh Morrissey (44) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club's Nick Schmaltz (8) grabs a bouncing puck in front of Winnipeg Jets' Neal Pionk (4) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save on Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) as Utah's Olli Maatta (2) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) gets ready to take a shot on Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) reaches to grab a bouncing puck after a Utah Hockey Club shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

DOVER, Del. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester won her contest for a seat in the U.S. Senate Tuesday, setting her up to become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate.

She'll join another Black woman, Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who also won a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday night, marking the first time in history that the American public elected two Black women to the Senate at once. Only three other Black women have served in the chamber until now, two of them elected and one who was appointed.

“The people have spoken, and we’re bringing bright hope to the United States Senate,” Blunt Rochester said in a victory speech to supporters who greeted her with chants of “LBR! LBR!”

“I stand before you tonight extremely humbled, and with a heart filled with gratitude to God and to the people of Delaware who put their trust in me,” Rochester said.

She acknowledged the trail previously "blazed by three strong Black women senators,” but said her run was not about making history.

“It’s about making a difference,” she said.

Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen. She was considered a virtual shoo-in for the Senate against businessman Hansen, a political newcomer. Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage over Republicans in solid-blue Delaware, which last sent a Republican to Washington in 2008.

Blunt Rochester raised some $8 million for her Senate campaign, while Hansen’s campaign receipts totaled only about $1 million, including more than $800,000 in loans he made to his campaign.

Blunt Rochester will fill the seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Tom Carper, who handpicked her as his preferred successor when he announced his retirement last year. Blunt Rochester once interned for Carper when he was in the House and also served in his cabinet when he was governor.

Blunt Rochester has served four terms at Delaware’s lone representative in the House.

According to the Congressional Record, she has sponsored 90 bills and seven resolutions during her House tenure, many aimed at improving or expanding access to health care, especially for women and minorities. The only measure sponsored by Blunt Rochester to become law is a resolution naming a Wilmington post office in honor of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a 19th-century anti-slavery activist and publisher.

Blunt Rochester began her political career as a case worker for Carper and served in appointed positions as Delaware’s labor secretary, state personnel director and deputy secretary of Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. She also has served as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del, votes during early voting, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del, smiles after voting during early voting, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Democratic Delaware Senate candidate state Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester speaks during an election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del, right, receives a sticker from Tracey Dixon after voting during early voting, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Democratic Delaware Senate candidate state Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester speaks during an election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Democratic Delaware Senate candidate state Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester shakes hands with supporters during an election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)