J.T. Compher scored twice and Andrew Copp recorded two assists as the Detroit Red Wings used a four-goal third period to beat the host Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on Saturday night.
John Gibson made 26 saves to win his eighth straight start — and 17 of his last 19 — for the Red Wings, who are 19-5-4 since Nov. 29, and have earned at least one point in nine of the last 10 contests.
With the game tied 1-1, a surging Compher benefited from some nifty rush passing between James van Riemsdyk and Emmitt Finnie to push the puck past Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (26 saves) just 1:43 into the third period. Lucas Raymond’s goal amid a wild scrum in the crease with 11:49 left in regulation added some insurance for the Red Wings.
Then Alex DeBrincat added an empty-netter and Marco Kasper scored late to cap Detroit’s breakout third.
Cole Koepke scored for the Jets, who are sitting on the outside of playoff position in the Western Conference, and are 1-2-2 on the heels of winning four straight. Winnipeg, which has totaled five goals in the last four contests, also saw a six-game home point streak (4-0-2) come to an end Saturday.
Following a scoreless first period, Winnipeg provided some notable pressure on Gibson in the second. The Jets, though, were finally rewarded when Logan Stanley’s point shot was stopped by some slot traffic, but the puck was retrieved by Koepke to beat Gibson with 9:52 remaining in the middle frame.
It was Winnipeg’s first 5-on-5 goal in four games.
Detroit, however, equalized with 4:10 remaining in the second. Amid some net-front congestion, Compher got enough of the puck to get it by a Hellebuyck, who tried his best to clear an active puck.
Raymond, Kasper and Copp each had a two-point night for the Red Wings.
–Field Level Media
