Jets blank Avalanche, become 2nd team ever to start 13-1
The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 1-0 on Thursday to become the second team in NHL history to begin a season with at least 13 wins through their first 14 games.
The 2007-08 Ottawa Senators, who began that season 13-1 before their second loss, are the only other team to do so.
Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves for his second consecutive shutout. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner now has three clean sheets on the season and 40 in his illustrious career.
The Avalanche arguably deserved a better fate in the contest. They generated 39 scoring chances to the Jets' 22 and won the high-danger scoring chance battle 12-6, per Natural Stat Trick, but couldn't get one past Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck was named the first star of the game, much to the delight of the fans.
Wins were slightly more difficult to come by prior to the 2005 lockout, as games ended in ties after overtime. However, the Jets have yet to require a shootout, winning 10 of their games in regulation and three in overtime. The 2007-08 Senators won one of their games in a shootout during their historic start. However, the likelihood of games ending in overtime increased in 2015-16 when the NHL switched from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3 in the extra frame.