Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist as the Winnipeg Jets held on to beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Friday night in the first of three straight games between the teams.
Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor also had a goal and an assist for Winnipeg. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 shots to win in his league-leading 27th start of the season.
Milan Lucic and Matthew Tkachuk scored in a fourth straight loss for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom finished with 26 saves.
Calgary Flames' Johnny Gaudreau, bottom, and Winnipeg Jets' Neal Pionk race for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 26, 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. (Todd KorolThe Canadian Press via AP)
The Flames have totaled four goals in their last four games. Calgary is 4-5-0 since Darryl Sutter took over as head coach March 8.
The teams will meet again in Calgary on Saturday and Monday nights. Winnipeg leads the season series 4-1-1.
With Markstrom pulled for an extra attacker, Tkachuk tipped in a shot by Elias Lindholm to pull the Flames within a goal with 1:59 remaining in regulation.
Winnipeg Jets' Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates his goal with teammates Mark Scheifele (55), Kyle Connor (81) and Paul Stastny (25) as Calgary Flames' Mark Giordano skates past during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 26, 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. (Todd KorolThe Canadian Press via AP)
Markstrom remained out of his net and with Statsny serving a tripping penalty on Tkachuk, the Flames couldn’t get the equalizer 6-on-4 over the final seconds.
The Jets led 2-0 after two periods before Mikael Backlund’s sharp-angled shot deflected off both Lucic and Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey for Calgary’s first goal at 6:52 of the third.
Stastny scored Winnipeg’s second power-play goal of the game from the slot on a feed from Wheeler at 14:54 to push the lead to 3-1. The Jets have scored two power-play goals in a game four times in their past eight.
Calgary Flames' Noah Hanifin, left, hauls down Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 26, 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. (Todd KorolThe Canadian Press via AP)
While Calgary attempted to kill off a double minor to Lucic midway through the third period, Markstrom’s clearing attempt over the glass gave the Jets a two-man advantage.
Stastny’s redirect of Connor’s shot deflected off Wheeler’s skate and by Markstrom for a power-play goal at 9:13 of the first.
A streaking Connor lifted his own rebound over the right pad of Markstrom at 5:33 of the second for his team-leading 17th goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.
Calgary Flames' Andrew Mangiapane, left, works against Winnipeg Jets' Logan Stanley during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 26, 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. (Todd KorolThe Canadian Press via AP)
Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin put a shot off the crossbar with 4:51 left in the second period.