Dawson Mercer and Kyle Connor Lead Winnipeg Jets to Victory Over New Jersey Devils

“The chants were pretty special. I haven’t heard that before, so it was pretty good,” Dawson Mercer told NHL.com.

The Winnipeg Jets secured an emotional 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, a win defined by the performance of two former Devils and a highly charged atmosphere in Winnipeg. Dawson Mercer and Kyle Connor each recorded two goals to propel the Jets, extending their winning streak to four games while simultaneously halting a five-game streak by New Jersey, according to CBS News.

The matchup mattered because it was the first time Connor Hellebuyck has returned to Winnipeg since his trade to the Devils. While Hellebuyck did not play, his presence during warmups triggered a chorus of boos from the home crowd, setting a volatile tone for the contest, NHL.com reported.

#NJDevils power play went 0-for-4 against the Jets, HC Keefe said that changes may not be "too far away". "Today, had a chance to make a difference and just a lot of the same of what we were seeing before we had a bit of a reset where we got better for a bit, but it's creeping…”

— Post by @amandacstein on X

Mercer and Daws find success against former club

Dawson Mercer appeared intent on proving his value to the Jets organization immediately. After a 56-point season in 2022-23, Mercer struggled to surpass the 50-point threshold in a Devils uniform, recording only four assists in 10 games prior to being traded to Winnipeg as part of the package for Hellebuyck, Yahoo Sports reported.

On Tuesday, Mercer opened the scoring at 7:54 of the first period with a snap shot from the faceoff circle that beat Devils goaltender Jake Allen. He later secured the decisive lead at 11:58 of the third period with a power-play goal on a rebound from an Alex Iafallo shot. Through nine games with the Jets, Mercer has now accumulated three goals and six points.

Mercer's 2 goals leads Jets past No-Hellebuyck Devils — NHL

Winnipeg’s goaltending also saw a familiar face in the crease. Former Devil Nico Daws made 19 saves on 21 shots, posting a .905 save percentage, according to Yahoo Sports. Daws’ only struggle came during a rapid second-period surge by New Jersey, where he allowed goals from Jesper Bratt and Cody Glass within 44 seconds of each other.

Player	Team	Goals	Assists	Total Points
Dawson Mercer	Winnipeg Jets	2	0	2
Kyle Connor	Winnipeg Jets	2	0	2
Jesper Bratt	New Jersey Devils	1	1	2
Cody Glass	New Jersey Devils	1	0	1

Jets score early as Scheifele reaches franchise milestone

The Jets established early dominance, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Kyle Connor scored at 15:06 of the opening frame on a deflection of a Cole Perfetti pass, an effort assisted by Mark Scheifele. That assist moved Scheifele into a tie for second place on the franchise’s all-time assist list with 550, according to CBS News.

Dawson Mercer and Kyle Connor Lead Winnipeg Jets to Victory Over New Jersey Devils — Photo: CBS News

New Jersey attempted to claw back in the second period. Jesper Bratt tied the game at 1:14 following a setup from Arseny Gritsyuk, and Cody Glass leveled the score again at 1:58 by deflecting a Jonathan Kovacevic shot. However, the Jets’ defense tightened significantly in the latter stages, holding the Devils to just 10 shots combined across the second and third periods, Yahoo Sports reported.

Connor eventually iced the game with an unassisted empty-net goal late in the third. The victory provides Winnipeg with significant momentum as they head to face the Dallas Stars on Thursday, while the Devils will host the Washington Capitals on the same night, per CBS News.

AND JUST LIKE THAT WE ARE ALL TIED UP!!!#NJDevils | US 2, THEM 2 pic.twitter.com/QoN1ZJXqGG

— Post by @NJDevils on X

The emotional volatility of the night was reflected in the stands. While fans booed Hellebuyck during warmups, they also broke out into “Mercer’s better!” chants following his first goal, NHL.com reported.

“The fans here are awesome… They care a lot about hockey here and they care a lot about the team, and it’s fun. It’s fun to be a part of it. It makes you want to battle that extra little bit every night for them,” said Dawson Mercer.

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