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Ehlers scores 3 goals to lead Jets to 6-2 win over Blue Jackets and improve to 6-0-0 on the road
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Ehlers scores 3 goals to lead Jets to 6-2 win over Blue Jackets and improve to 6-0-0 on the road

Nikolaj Ehlers scored three goals for his fifth career hat trick and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 Friday night to remain perfect on the road.

Mason Appleton and Gabriel Vilardi also scored, Josh Morrissey had a power play goal and an assist, and Ehlers added an assist for Winnipeg, which won 10 of its first 11 games. Eric Comrie made 20 saves as the Jets improved to 6-0-0 on the road for the best start in franchise history.

Sean Kuraly scored and Sean Monahan scored a power play goal for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins made 37 saves.

Takeaways

Jets: Scott Arniel returned to Nationwide Arena for the first time as head coach since he was fired by the Blue Jackets in January 2012. His Jets showed Columbus how it’s done, dominating from the opening faceoff game and showing why they are at the top of the NHL standings. .

Blue Jackets: Columbus couldn’t respond to the faster, more nimble Jets and spent most of the game guarding its zone with limited success, getting dominated in each period and ending up with a 21-shot deficit.

Key moment

Columbus found momentum when Monahan scored with 3:30 left in the second period, seven seconds into a power play, cutting the Jets’ lead to 3-2. Ehlers then scored his third goal of the night 2:20 later, and Winnipeg never looked back.

Key statistic

Winnipeg has maintained its power play streak, scoring with a power play in each of its last four games. The Jets have gone 14-for-31 this season.

Following

The Jets host Tampa Bay on Sunday and the Blue Jackets travel to Washington on Saturday.