Pro Sports

One-man show: Laine gets trick in Jets' 3-0 win vs Rangers

Posted March 06, 2018 6:00 am

By SCOTT CHARLES

Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) of Finland keeps the puck from New York Rangers center David Desharnais (51) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in New York, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Patrik Laine got his fourth hat trick and set a career high with his 38th goal, lifting the Winnipeg Jets over the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday night.

The 19-year-old star had been the youngest ever with three hat tricks - getting there at 18 years, 302 days - but it had been over a year since his last three-goal game. He joins Jimmy Carson and Dale Hawerchuk as the only players with four hat tricks before turning 20.

Laine has at least a point in nine straight games (13 goals, six assists) and has scored multiple goals in four of his past five contests. He's two goals behind Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead this season.

Laine is the first visiting teenager with a hat trick at Madison Square Garden since Toronto's Ted Kennedy on Dec. 27, 1944, according to Sportsnet Stats.

Steve Mason made 31 saves as the Jets extended their winning streak to three. Winnipeg has earned points in seven straight road games (6-0-1) and improved to 14-6-5 against the Eastern Conference.

Henrik Lundqvist made his 798th career appearance and stopped 31 shots as the Rangers lost for the first time in four games. Lundqvist made 50 saves in each of his previous two games.

Laine opened the scoring by putting a wrist shot past Lundqvist at 19:05 of the first period. He added on midway through the second period when he snapped off another wrist shot, then scored into an empty net with 34 seconds left.

Laine, the third overall pick of the 2016 draft, scored 36 goals in his rookie season. He leads the NHL in goals since entering the league with 74. Ovechkin and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov each have 73.

Mason made his first appearance since Jan. 9th, when he was sidelined with a concussion. The veteran will play important minutes down the stretch as Winnipeg looks to lighten Connor Hellebuyck's workload before the playoffs. The franchise hopes to win a playoff series for the first time in its history.

Winnipeg teammates Mark Schiefele and Blake Wheeler collided in the first period. Schiefele initially returned to action but was later ruled out for the game with an upper-body injury. His last shift ended with 3:58 remaining in the second period.

Rangers forward Vladislav Namestnikov skated in his first game at MSG since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

NOTES: Twelve members of the gold medal-winning U.S. women's Olympic hockey team were honored during the first period. ... Rangers F Pavel Buchnevich skated in his 100th game. ... Rangers F Mika Zibanejad missed the game with the flu. ... Rangers D Kevin Shattenkirk skated with the team in practice for the first time since having a knee operation in January. ... Winnipeg sent goalie Michael Hutchinson to the AHL to make room for Mason. ... Defenseman Toby Enstrom missed his fourth consecutive game.

UP NEXT

Jets: Play at New Jersey on Thursday night.

Rangers: Play at Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

___

More AP hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

Winnipeg Jets center Jack Roslovic (52) celebrates with Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) of Finland who had a hat trick after the Jets shut out the New York Rangers 3-0 in an NHL hockey game in New York, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Jets center Matt Hendricks (15) looks on. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Steve Mason (35)makes a save with his skate as Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) watches over his shoulder during the second period of an NHL hockey game in New York, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

Winnipeg Jets teammates greet Jets defenseman Ben Chiarot (7) and Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) of Finland who scored his second goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in New York, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) skates past, left. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

New York Rangers right wing Jesper Fast (17) of Sweden takes a shot against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Steve Mason (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in New York, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) The Associated Press

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