Mercer scores twice, including winner, as Jets beat Devils in emotional return

WINNIPEG · Dawson Mercer scored twice, including the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period, as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Tuesday. Kyle Connor also scored twice, adding an empty-netter, as the Jets extended their win streak to four games before a capacity crowd of 15,321 at Canada Life Centre. The victory snapped the Devils' five-game win streak. Nico Daws, another former Devil, made 19 saves for Winnipeg.

Mercer gave the Jets a 3-2 lead at 11:58 of the third period, converting a feed from Alex Iafallo on a power play. "It was great, obviously getting the first one, then the cherry on top at the end definitely made my night," Mercer said. Connor sealed the win with an unassisted empty-net goal with 58 seconds remaining. The game was marked by the return of former Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was traded to New Jersey last month but did not start. Fans booed Hellebuyck during the pre-game warm-up and chanted throughout the game. "Not too often the building is rocking in warm-up and right from the drop of the puck," Jets head coach Scott Arniel said.

Mercer opened the scoring at 7:54 of the first period with a snap shot that beat Devils starter Jake Allen. Connor made it 2-0 on a two-man advantage at 15:06, deflecting a Cole Perfetti pass. Mark Scheifele assisted on the goal, moving him into a second-place tie with Dale Hawerchuk on the franchise's all-time assist list with 550. New Jersey tied the game with two goals 44 seconds apart early in the second period. Jesper Bratt scored at 1:14, assisted by Jack Hughes to extend his point streak to six games. Cody Glass deflected a Jonathan Kovacevic shot past Daws at 1:58 to make it 2-2.

Daws, who was acquired alongside Mercer in the Hellebuyck trade, earned his first win as a Jet. "Any time you can get two points for your team, it feels really good and obviously against them, it’s even more special," Daws said. Allen stopped 21 shots in the loss for New Jersey. Arniel said it was a big game for Mercer and Daws and that they were fired up to face their old team. The Jets have now won six straight home games against the Devils dating back to November 2019. Up next: The Jets visit the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

With files from Sportsnet, The Globe and Mail and Yahoo Sports