Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-0 Friday night at MTS Centre.

“I thought we were sharp," said Jets captain Blake Wheeler who scored his 18th of the season on the power play 10:51 into the first period. "I thought the importance of this game was evident throughout the last few days of practice. You know, after that Minnesota game there was a sour taste in the room. We didn’t play our best game but had an opportunity to salvage something, and this time of year you can’t afford to miss those opportunities. I really like our practice after that. That could have been an easy day to maybe take off and lick your wounds and watch video, but we got after it that next day, and I think that set the table for tonight.”

Wheeler and Bryan Little added empty net goals and Dustin Byfuglien had a pair of assists as the Jets improved to 15-8-1 against Central Division opponents.

Mathieu Perreault extended his point streak to six games with an assist on Wheeler's power play marker.

The Jets, who have a win and a loss to start their six-game homestand, face the Colorado Avalanche Saturday (6 p.m.) at MTS Centre.


photos courtesy Ray Peters