Jets 5, Rangers 2
NEW YORK -- The Winnipeg Jets are turning their longest road trip of the season into their most successful trek.
The Jets claimed their third game out of four on the trip, knocking off the New York Rangers 5-2 Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Winnipeg (13-12-4) was playing the fourth game of a six-game road trip. The Jets knocked off the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders before losing 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday.
The Jets broke a 2-2 tie in the third period on two goals from center Olli Jokinen. His fifth goal of the season at 12:42 proved to be the difference.
Right winger Blake Wheeler added an empty-net goal late in the third period.
Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec made 35 saves in the win. New York goalie Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots.
The Rangers (14-14-0) won four of their previous six games.
Ryan Callahan's hustle allowed the Rangers to knot the game at 2-2 at 15:50 of the second period. The New York right winger pounced on a loose puck in a scrum in front of the Winnipeg net, backhanding it into the net as he lay on the ice. He scored his seventh goal of the season.
The Jets grabbed a 2-1 edge midway through the second period. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien intercepted a Rangers pass in his own zone and fired a pass to center John Albert, who skated in alone on Talbot and fired a wrist shot for the first NHL goal of his career at 10:00.
Albert, 24, was making his NHL debut. He was called up from AHL St. John's on Sunday.
Some superb forechecking gave the Rangers a 1-0 advantage just 2:49 into the game.
Right winger Mats Zucccarello tipped in defenseman Ryan McDonagh's blast from the right point for his fourth goal of the season. Jets defenseman Keaton Ellerby tried to clear the puck from his own zone, but instead it was intercepted by McDonagh.
Winnipeg tied it up at 1-1 in the second period. Right winger Devin Setoguchi used Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto as a screen, sending the puck between his legs and past Talbot on the short side at 8:16 for his seventh goal of the season.
NOTES: Winnipeg LW Evander Kane missed a game for the first time this season. He sat out due to a lower-body injury he sustained Friday in a road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. ... Winnipeg C Bryan Little had seven points (one goal, six assists) in his previous seven games before Monday night. ... The Rangers play 10 of their last 11 games before Christmas at Madison Square Garden. ... Cam Talbot is the first Ranger goalie to win six consecutive decisions in his first year since Jim Henry in 1941-42. ... Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien began the night tied for fourth among NHL defensemen with 21 points.
