WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Michael Hutchinson’s 30-save performance in the Winnipeg net sparked the Jets to a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Friday night.
The backup netminder was sensational, particularly during the third period when he made 16 saves as the Bruins pushed for the tying goal.
Center Mathieu Perreault scored off a deflected shot by Dustin Byfuglien late in the second period to put the Jets in front 2-1.
Left winger Evander Kane scored his sixth goal of the season for Winnipeg (17-10-6).
Defenseman Torey Krug replied with his sixth goal for the Bruins (16-14-3).
Tuukka Rask blocked 25 shots in the Bruins net.
Kane knocked in a rebound off a low, hard point drive from defenseman Grant Clitsome to open the scoring at 3:12 of the first period.
Veteran defenseman Jay Harrison made his Winnipeg debut after being picked up in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and drew the second assist. He received a warm, welcoming ovation when he controlled the puck in the neutral zone, but the cheer was near-deafening just a half-minute later when his assist was announced.
Krug pulled the Bruins even at 4:49 of the second period. After Hutchinson flopped to make a sensational save off a two-one-break by forwards Chris Kelly and Carl Soderberg, Krug swooped in and deposited the rebound behind the Jets netminder.
Badly outplayed for most of the second period, the Jets got the go-ahead goal at 19:37 on a floater through traffic that originally was credited to Byfuglien. Right winger Blake Wheeler slid the puck back to the point and then stormed the front of the net to provide the shield, picking up his club-leading 15th assist on the play.