Mercer scores twice as Jets beat Hellebuyck-less Devils

Former Devils ahead Dawson Mercer and Kyle Connor every scored twice to guide the Winnipeg Jets to an emotional 4-2 victory over New Jersey on Tuesday.

Cody Glass and Jesper Bratt replied for the Devils.

The victory prolonged Winnipeg’s win streak to 4 video games, and halted New Jersey’s at 5 video games.

Former Devils netminder Nico Daws made 19 saves for Winnipeg (8-8-3) earlier than a capability crowd of 15,321 followers at Canada Life Centre.

Jake Allen stopped 21 pictures for New Jersey (13-6-0).

After Mercer gave the Jets a 3-2 lead on the facility play at 11:58 of the third interval, Connor sealed the end result with an unassisted empty-net purpose.

The Devils, who trailed 2-0 after the primary interval, tied the sport within the second interval with a pair of objectives 44 seconds aside. Bratt scored at 1:14 on an ideal setup from Arseny Gritsyuk from behind the web. Jack Hughes additionally assisted to increase his level streak to 6 video games.

Glass then tied the sport at 1:58 when he deflected Jonathan Kovacevic’s shot previous Daws. Declan Chisholm additionally assisted.

Connor scored throughout a two-man benefit at 15:06 of the primary interval when he deflected Cole Perfetti’s cross previous Allen. Mark Scheifele additionally assisted, shifting him right into a second-place tie with Dale Hawerchuk in all-time assists in franchise historical past with 550.

Mercer opened the scoring at 7:54 when his snap shot from the faceoff circle beat Allen.

Jets: Got here out energized by the gang booing and chanting, “Helle Sucks!” to specific their anger that former Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck didn’t begin in opposition to Winnipeg of their first sport in opposition to the Devils for the reason that Jets traded him to New Jersey. They jumped to a 2-0 lead.

Devils: Took the wind out of the Jets’ sails by scoring two objectives 44 seconds aside early within the second interval to tie the sport 2-2. However they failed to attain after that.

Mercer’s second purpose of the sport gave Winnipeg a 3-2 lead.

It took the Devils 13 minutes earlier than they bought a shot on internet within the third interval.

Devils: Host the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Jets: Go to the Dallas Stars on Thursday.