Jets Beat Devils 4-2 as Mercer and Connor Score Twice Each

The Winnipeg Jets beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday night. Two players New Jersey traded to Winnipeg in October carried the game, and the player Winnipeg sent the other way never left the bench.

Dawson Mercer scored two goals for Winnipeg. Kyle Connor also scored two, including an empty-net goal with 58 seconds left. Cole Perfetti had two assists.

A win built on the first period

Winnipeg led 2-0 after the first period. New Jersey tied the game in the second on goals from Cody Glass and Jesper Bratt. Winnipeg scored twice in the third period, and Connor hit the empty net after Nico Hischier was sent off late for delay of game.

Nico Daws made 19 saves to win his first game as a Jet. Jake Allen made 21 saves for New Jersey. Winnipeg scored twice on the power play in four chances, outshot New Jersey 25-21 and outhit the Devils 22-8. The crowd was 15,209.

The trade in the middle of it

The game turned on the October trade between the two clubs. Winnipeg sent Connor Hellebuyck, their star goalie, to New Jersey. Mercer and Daws were part of the return.

Hellebuyck was in the building, in a Devils uniform, as Allen's backup. He did not play. Mercer, who came up with New Jersey, scored twice against his old team. Daws beat the team that drafted him.

Winnipeg improved to 8-8-3 and reached .500 in points for the first time this season. New Jersey lost for the sixth time, against 13 wins, and stayed near the top of the Metropolitan Division.

What happens next

Winnipeg visits the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Nov 12. The two clubs meet again in New Jersey on Nov 28.

By the numbers

Connor took seven shots, the most in the game, in 22 minutes 53 seconds. Mercer scored his two goals on three shots in 16 minutes 29 seconds. Josh Morrissey played 24 minutes 5 seconds for Winnipeg, and Dylan Samberg played 22 minutes 42 seconds.

Jack Hughes played 25 minutes 4 seconds for New Jersey and had one assist. Hischier, the Devils captain, was held without a point and took the late delay of game penalty that ended the comeback.

New Jersey gave the puck away 16 times to nine for Winnipeg. The Jets took the puck away seven times to two. Faceoffs finished close, 51.9 percent for Winnipeg. Daws finished with a .905 save percentage, and Allen finished at .875, with the fourth Winnipeg goal going into his empty net.