Eric Comrie is capitalizing on his limited opportunities in goal for the Winnipeg Jets.
Comrie made 33 saves, securing his seventh win in 10 starts, and Kyle Connor netted his team-leading 35th goal late in the second period to lift the Jets to a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
“I think our team did a really good job of keeping everything to the outside,” Comrie said after winning his fourth consecutive start and improving to 7-2-1. They did a good job boxing out and collecting rebounds. We have a good team in that locker room, and it’s just a pleasure to play behind them.”
With Connor Hellebuyck as the primary goaltender, Comrie knows he typically has five or six games off between starts. Facing New Jersey was particularly enjoyable for him, having been with the Devils for a month last season and winning his only start with them.
“I think if you spend only a month in a place, it doesn’t count as a revenge tour,” Comrie joked. Guys joked about it before the game. But no, don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed every single second I was in New Jersey.”
Connor scored the game-winner with 54 seconds left in the second period on an unassisted breakaway. The referee initially thought the puck hit the crossbar and didn’t go in, but it had actually caromed into the bottom of the net. Connor initiated the play by stealing the puck from Jesper Bratt in the Devils’ zone and skating the length of the ice.
“Obviously, I knew it went in,” Connor said. “I was right there, and just kind of looked back, and the ref was waving no goal. But I knew it went in.”
So did Devils goaltender Nico Daws, who finished with 28 saves.
“I think I might have been the only one in the building who knew he scored,” Daws said. I think I could have played it better, given myself a greater chance. At the end of the day, it was a great goal scorer, and he put the puck in a great spot to score.”
Defenseman Brenden Dillon also scored, as the Jets won for the fourth time in six games (4-1-1).
Jack Hughes scored for the Devils, extending his home-scoring streak to 13 games (nine goals, 12 assists).
“It’s kind of an old theme for us: We missed too many opportunities,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said.
Dillon and Hughes exchanged goals in the first period.
Dillon scored his second of the season at 3:22 on a 2-on-1 break with Mark Scheifele. It was his first goal since Dec. 17 and his 26th goal in 709 NHL games.
Hughes tied it on the power play at 18:27, one-timing a cross-ice pass from Bratt past Comrie before the goalie could get across the crease.
Game notes
The game was the first between the teams in New Jersey since Oct. 4, 2019. The Jets defeated the Devils 8-4 on Dec. 3. Before the game, the Devils honored Travis Zajac for playing in his 1,000th game last season. Zajac played all but 13 games of his 1,024-game, 15-year career with New Jersey. Devils captain Nico Hischier missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Daws started his sixth consecutive game.
UP NEXT:
- Jets: On Friday night, the Jets will play the second of three games in four nights when they face the Islanders in New York.
- Devils: Conclude a four-game homestand by hosting Anaheim on Saturday night.
