Blake Wheeler only played in two games in the past seven days but it was still enough to get named a player of the week.
The Jets won their first match in a tour of the Global Series in Finland by beating Florida 4-2. The hero of the match was Patrik Laine, who was marked by a hat trick in the arena in Helsinki. The return to their homeland had a very favorable effect on the right-winger of the Jets, who was able to interrupt the goalless five-match series.
The Jets Captain noted that young Laine is sometimes too critical of himself and his game but it certainly helps him to develop and Wheeler likes to play alongside guys like him.
The Winnipeg Jets forward is the NHL’s second star of the week. Despite appearing in just the two games, the 32-year-old Wheeler tied for an NHL-best with six assists. He also had one goal for a seven point week. He became just the second player in NHL history to assist on nine consecutive goals by his team. Wayne Gretzky is the only other player to ever accomplish the feat.
Wheeler currently shares the NHL lead with 20 assists, and his 23 points are tied for fourth in the league. Wheeler is the second Jets’ player to earn a Three Stars of the Week honor this season after Mark Scheifele received the nod at the end of October. It’s just the third time in his career Wheeler has been selected for one of the Three Stars of the week.
With five goals and two assists last week Boston Bruins right winger David Pastrnak is the first star, while Philadelphia Flyers centre Claude Giroux picked up the third-star honor. The Jets continue their four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.
The next Winnipeg Jets game is scheduled for Thursday, November 15th, gate your tickets now, if do not have it already or plane a game night with your friends and family to support our own Winnipeg team!