WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves, Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Saturday night.
Adam Lowry, Gabriel Vilardi and Vlad Namestnikov also scored for NHL-leading Winnipeg. The Jets went 2-1-1 on a four-game homestand to improve to 22-9-1.
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Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor (81) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Mike Matheson (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) keeps his eyes on the puck as Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) waits for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Josh Morrissey (44) and Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot as Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14) waits for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) saves the deflection by Winnipeg Jets' Nikita Chibrikov (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Josh Morrissey (44), Mark Scheifele (55) and Kyle Connor (81) celebrate Connor's goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) and Nino Niederreiter (62) celebrate Lowry's goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor (81) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Mike Matheson (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Josh Anderson and Lane Hutson scored for Montreal, and Sam Montembeault stopped 23 shots. The Canadiens dropped to 11-16-3.
Anderson pulled Montreal to 3-2 midway through the third period before Namestnikov sealed it with an empty-netter.
Connor gave the Jets a 3-1 lead when he one-timed a pass from Vilardi on a two-man advantage in the second period.
Jets: Leading 3-1, the Jets killed off a two-men short situation for 30 seconds late in the second period.
Canadiens: Came to life in the third period and had plenty of chances only to be stymied by Hellebuyck, who made some outstanding saves.
The Jets scored two power-play goals, one with a two-man advantage.
Both teams are back in action Tuesday night. Montreal hosts Buffalo, and Winnipeg is at San Jose to open a two-game trip.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor (81) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Mike Matheson (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) keeps his eyes on the puck as Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) waits for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Josh Morrissey (44) and Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot as Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14) waits for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) saves the deflection by Winnipeg Jets' Nikita Chibrikov (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Josh Morrissey (44), Mark Scheifele (55) and Kyle Connor (81) celebrate Connor's goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) and Nino Niederreiter (62) celebrate Lowry's goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor (81) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Mike Matheson (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
