Jets stars shine in blowout win over Colorado – Winnipeg

If the hockey world needed further confirmation that the Winnipeg Jets’ strong start to the season was no fluke, how about a convincing win over the defending champions?

The Winnipeg Stars shone brightest on Tuesday night as the Jets outscored the Colorado Avalanche 5-0 to improve to 14-6-1 this season.

Blake Wheeler opened the scoring for the home side on the power play when he snatched a wrist from Alexander Georgiev 9:18 into the first, one of only four Winnipeg shots in the period.

Early in the second, Josh Morrissey continued his torrid offensive streak when he fired a shot from the point past Georgiev to make it 2-0.

The Jets thought they had a 3-0 lead shortly after when Mark Scheifele tapped a loose puck, but a challenge from Colorado nullified the goal as officials ruled Wheeler interfered with Georgiev before Scheifele don’t mark.

Unfazed, the Jets got a third base that couldn’t be erased when Scheifele found Cole Perfetti heading for the Avs goal, who then slipped a perfect pass to Wheeler to hit into the open net.

Now, it should be mentioned that the Jets have lost multi-goal third-period leads twice in their last four games, only to win the game in overtime.

There would be no such drama that night.

Scheifele completed a 2-on-1 with Kyle Connor just 82 seconds from third to give the Jets a 4-0 lead the Avalanche couldn’t exploit.

Wheeler added a third of the night for good measure late in the third for his fourth career hat-trick and first since 2019.

Connor Hellebuyck was perfect that night, repelling all 40 shots he faced for his third bagel of the season.

Winnipeg is now out until Friday when it hosts Patrik Laine and the Columbus Blue Jackets.