National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
New Jersey 5, Winnipeg 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Ian Walsh, Paul Devorski
Linesmen: Brian Murphy, Derek Nansen
Attendance: 14129

Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice as the New Jersey Devils beat Winnipeg for the second time in less than a week, cruising past the visiting Jets 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Kovalchuk's fifth and sixth goals in the past six games paced an impressive offensive attack by the Devils, who defeated the Jets 2-1 on Saturday. New Jersey has won five of six, allowing two goals or fewer in each of those victories.

Winnipeg has lost six of eight.

Kovalchuk put the Devils on the board with 1:01 remaining in the first period, collecting a Zach Parise feed before speeding in on a shorthanded breakaway and beating Jets netminder Chris Mason.

It was the 12th shorthanded goal for New Jersey this season, far and away the most in the league.

Petr Sykora extended the advantage 1:32 into the second frame, blasting a shot just inside the Winnipeg blue line that slid low past a screened Mason. David Clarkson made it 3-0 just 3:16 later, snapping a shot from the right circle that eluded Mason on the short side.

Kovalchuk followed with his second of the game and team-high 19th of the campaign, whistling a high shot past Mason just as Winnipeg's Evander Kane was leaving the penalty box with the Jets facing a two-man disadvantage.

That goal spelled the end of the night for Mason, who was replaced by Ondrej Pavelec.

Tobias Enstrom and Patrik Elias traded goals 3:13 apart midway through the third period.
Top Game Performances
 
Winnipeg   New Jersey
Tobias Enstrom 1 Points Patrik Elias 3
Tobias Enstrom 1 Goals Ilya Kovalchuk 2
Nik Antropov 1 Assists Patrik Elias 2
N/A Power Play Goals Ilya Kovalchuk 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ondrej Pavelec .800 Save Percentage Martin Brodeur .952
Chris Mason 11 Saves Martin Brodeur 20
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Winnipeg 21 1 0-1 3-4 8 27
New Jersey 20 5 1-4 1-1 2 29
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game at home against Boston. The Devils have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .632 after a loss.
  • Winnipeg will play their next game at home against Buffalo. The Jets have a W/L % of .381 after a win and .520 after a loss.