Coyotes 0 - 1 Jets
Final
  for this game

Jets shut out Coyotes

Dec 2, 2011 - 5:33 AM Winnipeg, MB (Sports Network) - Ondrej Pavelec made 33 saves for his second shutout of the season and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 1-0, on Thursday night.

It was the first time Winnipeg hosted the former Jets franchise that left the city in 1996 to become the Coyotes.

Pavelec stopped 11 shots in the first period, 16 in the second and needed only six saves in the third to complete his eighth career shutout.

Bryan Little scored the game's only goal 6:53 into the first period and the Jets earned just their fifth win in 13 games.

Mike Smith was a hard-luck loser for Phoenix, giving up just one goal on 31 shots.

"Our goaltender did a fine job for us gave us a chance to win," said Coyotes coach Dave Tippett. "Our puck play, our execution is not what is needs to be."

The Coyotes, who entered the game 10-4-1 in their previous 15, were known as the Winnipeg Jets until they relocated to the desert after 1995-96 season.

Thursday was the second and final game this season between the former and current Jets franchises. In the first, Phoenix beat Winnipeg 4-1 in its home opener on October 15.

"Fun to be a part of a game like that. I think the crowd was really into it," said Little. "It was back and forth. I think we traded a few too many chances with that team than we'd like but, you know, Pavelec shut the door for us and played great."

The Jets improved to 1-1 on their five-game homestand, killing off two Coyotes power plays and getting the only offense they needed on a 2-on-1 play early in the first period.

Little started the play with Evander Kane on the left side and stuck around to clean up the rebound on his wrist shot, jamming it home from Smith's left into an open net.

Game Notes

It was only the second time the Thrashers-Jets franchise beat the Coyotes in 16 meetings (2-10-4)...Winnipeg went 0-for-3 on the power play...The Jets are 5-5-3 in their last 13 games.






Related News