Pens blank slumping Jets – matching turning point as Winnipeg Free Press

PITTSBURGH – Game, set, match penalty.

It was as simple and ugly as it got for the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, as a five-minute penalty and ejection from veteran defenseman Brenden Dillon was the difference in PPG in a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Paints Arena.

The hosts, angered by the loss of striker Noel Acchari to injury during the game, scored twice in the extended manoeuvrable advantage to build momentum for victory.

“Five minutes is a long time,” Neil Pionk said of the punishment for his partner's crime. “They got hit a few times, but at the end of the day, our kills have to get the job done. They beat us on special teams tonight, plain and simple.”

Matt Fried / The Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin drives the puck against Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Villardi in the first period. — Matt Fried / Associated Press

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin drives the puck against Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Villardi in the first period.

Winnipeg is now mired in a season-high four-game winless streak (0-3-1), which feels even longer considering the NHL's nine-day layoff and the All-Star break were mixed in. In general, they sit at 30. -13-5. Pittsburgh, fighting for its playoff survival, improves to 23-17-7.

“Those stats mean absolutely nothing,” Mark Scheifele said of any suggestion his team is officially on the decline.

“You know, we had a lot of good opportunities. A new player in our lineup, a lot of new looks, and it's obviously very difficult for the top five (defensive backs) early in the game. But we made a lot of good plays and we don't spend a lot of time thinking about those stupid stats.”

It's impossible, but we'll spend some more time digging it out.

1) WHAT IS DELHI?: Dillon's vicious hit on Acciari left the Pittsburgh center fouled 4:15 into the second period.

Sure, the Jets were down 1-0 in the first thanks to Kris Letang's fumble, but they came out strong to start the second period and drove the game, including back-to-back extended offensive zone shifts.

It seemed like only a matter of time before they beat Tristan Jarry. Then disaster struck.

Dillon's intentions were probably not malicious, but the end result was extreme. Acciari took a direct shoulder to his head, sent his helmet flying and appeared to be knocked out instantly. He then fell face first onto the ice, tried to get up and fell again. Bleeding and disoriented, he had to be helped off the ice and never returned.

Matt Fried / Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins' Noel Acciari takes a hit from Winnipeg Jets' Brenden Dillon in the second period. — Matt Fried / Associated Press

Pittsburgh Penguins' Noel Acciari takes the field after being hit in the head by Winnipeg Jets' Brenden Dillon in the second period.

The on-ice call was a match penalty for an illegal head check and it was automatically upheld after video review.

“The refs made the call and unfortunately the call didn't go our way,” coach Rick Bowness said.

Dillon plays hard-nosed and has only one suspension in his career — a one-game suspension in 2017. He may get a call from the Department of Player Safety on Wednesday.

“You know, Dilly's a guy with heart and soul, he's a guy who plays hard, he's physical,” Scheifele said.

“He's a physical guy, he's always played hard and in tough situations. You never want to see someone drop off your team or their team. But you know, Dilli is a very polite fellow.'

Pionk, who never hesitates to challenge, was asked about his thoughts on the hit.

“I like his game. He plays hard and I hope he plays like that,” he said.