Kyle Connor reaches 30 goals for 8th time to help the Jets beat the Avalanche 3-1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Kyle Connor reached 30 goals for a franchise-record eighth time and added an assist, Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves and the Winnipeg Jets beat the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Saturday.

Connor broke a tie with Ilya Kovalchuk for the most 30-goal seasons in Thrashers/Jets history. Connor has reached the 30-goal mark in every season of his nine-year NHL career except for the 56-game COVID-19 shortened campaign when he had 26.

Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Jets. Mark Scheifele had to two assists for push his season total to 51, one more than his previous best.

Martin Necas ended Hellebuyck's shutout bid with 1:16 left.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 15 saves for the Avalanche. They had won six in a row on the road.

Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns played in his 990th consecutive NHL game, surpassing Keith Yandle for the second-longest streak in league history. Phil Kessel is the leader at 1,064.

Avalanche: Host Pittsburgh on Monday night.

Jets: Host St. Louis on Sunday.

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

Winnipeg Jets' Cole Perfetti (91) vies for the puck with Colorado Avalanche's Zakhar Bardakov (93) during second period of an NHL game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets players celebrate Kyle Connor's (81) goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of an NHL game in Winnipeg, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Alex Iafallo (9) scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) during the second period of an NHL game in Winnipeg, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Jonathan Toews (19) and Colorado Avalanche's Nicolas Roy (10) face-off during the first period of an NHL game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Alex Iafallo (9) and Kyle Connor (81) celebrate Iafallo's goal against the Colorado Avalanche during second period of an NHL game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will return from injury in time for a proper farewell, but he won't be ready for Sunday's game at Manchester United.

The Egypt forward, who is leaving the club at the end of this season, sustained what appeared to be a hamstring problem in the win over Crystal Palace last Saturday.

Liverpool coach Arne Slot confirmed on Friday that Salah will play again during this campaign.

“Usually he’s earlier fit than other players after a minor injury — because he has a minor injury — so we expect him indeed to be back in the final part of the season, but not for Sunday,” Slot said.

“It's a big relief that his injury is minor, so that he's able to play for us, that he's able to play at the World Cup. If there's any time a player that deserves to have (that) kind of big send-off, it's definitely Mo.”

Salah announced in late March that he's leaving the club one year earlier than expected. This is his ninth season at Anfield.

The 33-year-old Salah has endured a lackluster campaign that included a public row with Slot. He's scored just seven Premier League goals after topping the chart last season with 29.

Liverpool has four games left this season, which concludes May 24 when Brentford visits Anfield.

Slot's team trails third-place United by three points with both sides on track for Champions League spots.

Egypt is in Group G at the World Cup and opens against Belgium on June 15 before facing New Zealand and Iran. Egypt has never won a World Cup match in any of its three appearances.

Their most recent appearance was at the 2018 edition in Russia, where Salah was slowed by a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final weeks earlier, when Liverpool lost to Real Madrid.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah grabs at his leg as he speaks with with manager Arne Slot after being substituted during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Liverpool, England. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch after being substituted during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace in Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah smiles as he sits on the pitch after getting injured during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace in Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)