Mercer scores twice as Winnipeg Jets double Hellebuyck-less Devils 4-2

Résumé détaillé

Dawson Mercer scored twice, including the game-winner, while Nico Daws stopped 19 shots to earn his first win as a Jet.

When Connor Hellebuyck was dealt to New Jersey, everyone had November 10 circled on their calendar. That was the day that the Devils would visit the Winnipeg Jets.

While the sellout crowd didn’t get a full cathartic experience because Hellebuyck was held out of the game, they still had a great time watching their team dispatch New Jersey 4-2 with a pair of former Devils factoring largely into things.

Fans got their lone chance to see Hellebuyck during warmups and they made sure to make their voices heard, booing him vociferously when he took the ice, giving him Bronx cheers whenever he stopped a shot in warmups and cheering very loudly when a puck would beat him.

They also whipped out several fun chants early in the game, with Hellebuyck watching the game from somewhere in the bowels of the arena. Chants like “where is Connor?”, “pull your goalie” and “face the music” were heard loud and clear in the opening period.

New Jersey controlled the puck for much of the first period but Winnipeg opened the scoring, and, in an act of poetic justice, it was a former Devil delivering the blow.

Dawson Mercer picked up the puck in the corner in the Devils’ end and started carrying it up the wall. He cut back to the middle, eluding 17, before firing a wrister that beat Jake Allen top-shelf through a screen at the 7:54 mark.

It was Mercer’s second goal since he was traded to Winnipeg in the Hellebuyck deal.

Winnipeg would arrive at a great opportunity to double their lead when they found themselves on a 5-on-3 for 1:46. It took almost the whole duration of the two-man advantage but they were able to cash in.

After Mark Scheifele missed badly on a one-timer, the puck rolled around to Kyle Connor in the corner. After a quick give and go with Cole Perfetti, Connor held the puck for a few seconds, then sent a shot on goal that went off the skate of Brenden Dillon in front and trickled into the net.

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