By Canadian Press

Connor Hellebuyck perfect as Winnipeg Jets blank Chicago Blackhawks 4-0

Nov 15, 2016 | 9:00 PM

WINNIPEG — Connor Hellebuyck finally made the statement he was looking for all season.

His 27-save performance propelled the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks for his first shutout of the season and third of his young career.

“I’ve been chasing it for a while and now I got the monkey off my back,” said Hellebuyck, who last recorded a shutout on Jan. 15, 2016.

The second-year NHLer has played 12 games this season with 11 starts (7-4). He agreed when asked if it was a statement game for the Jets (9-7-2), who are in second place in the Central Division behind the Blackhawks (11-4-2).

“Absolutely,” Hellebuyck said. “The statement was that we’ve figured it out and now we know how to play and now we know we can play it.”

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Three of Winnipeg’s four goals were notable firsts. Rookie defenceman Josh Morrissey scored his first NHL goal, while forwards Chris Thorburn and Nic Petan earned their first goals of the season.

“You dream of that one in the driveway, basement and the outdoor rink,” Morrissey said. “To finally be able to get that and see it go in was something special.”

Rookie sniper Patrik Laine also scored his league-leading 12th goal of the season for the Jets, who now have points in their past five games. Nikolaj Ehlers picked up a pair of assists.

Morrissey scored at 6:26 of the first period when his one-timer from the high slot went through Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford’s legs.

Thorburn made it 2-0 at 4:41 of the third and then Laine and Petan scored 11 seconds apart to make it 4-0 at 8:43.

Crawford was replaced by Scott Darling after allowing the four goals on 22 shots. Darling made two saves for Chicago, which was playing its first game of a season-long, seven-game road trip.

“It was a tough few minutes, just (the puck) kind of going in off everything, finding its way through,” Crawford said of the quick third-period goals. “I mean, that happens in games.

“We’ve put together a good string of games, solid hockey. We played good tonight. They didn’t really have much. Like I said, it was a tough few minutes, but we can forget about that one for sure.”

Crawford had been unbeaten in his previous nine starts (7-1-2).

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville wasn’t pointing the finger at Crawford for a loss that ended the team’s string of earning a point in each of their 11 previous games.

“I wouldn’t even say he was off,” Quenneville said. “We got a one-goal game in the third period and we’re right in it so that’s where we’re at.

“And he gives us a chance every single night so there’s no blame. That was a team loss.”

It was the first of five games between the clubs this season.

“They’re a team that has been where we want to go and we want to show we can play with the best guys in our division and conference,” Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba said. “The win was big for our confidence.”

Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice, whose squad is now 6-0 when leading after two periods, said it was their best game this season.

“It probably was,” he said. “We had a bit of a lull. They’re a good team. They changed gears on us a bit at the end of the second and we found away to come back.”

The Jets head out for a five-game road trip, starting Thursday in Philadelphia. The Blackhawks continue on to Calgary for a game Friday.

Notes: Chicago had scored at least two goals in each of its previous games this season … Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith was playing in his 850th career NHL game.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press