Travis Konecny's Gordie Howe hat trick leads Philadelphia Flyers past Winnipeg Jets.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny ​​had a goal, an assist and a rebound in the first period to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night in what was dubbed the Gordie Howe hat trick. .

Asked if he liked the goal, the assist or the fight, Konecny ​​said, “Honestly, just the win.”

Morgan Frost added a goal and an assist, and Ryan Poehling and Tyson Foerster also scored for the Flyers, who have won both games since the All-Star break after losing five straight. Samuel Ersson made 28 saves. The rebuilding Flyers are a surprising third in the Metropolitan Division East.

Ersson said the schedule stoppage comes at a good time for Philadelphia.

“I think everybody needed a little break, and we used that to our advantage,” he said.

On January 23, Ersson became Philadelphia's No. 1 goaltender after Carter Hart went on indefinite leave. Hart is one of five players on Canada's 2018 junior team who have been accused of sexual assault in Ontario.

Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, who were down five. Winnipeg fell to third place in the West Central Division.

“Usually, we're scoring a few more goals than we are now,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “Five for five, we are still the best team in this league. Right now we are not scoring goals. Who will we be with the Winnipeg Jets. We're going to keep working and we're going to get through this.”

Konecny ​​began his big first round by defeating Neil Pionk in a heated contest in 6 minutes, 3 seconds. He then gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead with his team-leading 24th goal 5:57 into the period with a shot from the slot past Pionk and Laurent Brossoit. He capped the period with Frost's second assist with 1:54 left.

Flyers coach John Tortorella was in no mood to praise Konecny ​​as Philadelphia managed eight combined shots over the final two periods in a loss to the Jets.

Asked about Konecny's “Gordie Howe hat trick,” Tortorella said, “Yeah, I think so.”

“Win the game,” he added in a brief press conference about his overall grade. “We got two points.”

Ersson made a stellar stop with 9.3 seconds left to rob Josh Morrissey and hold the Jets scoreless.

The Pilots took a four-goal lead with 2:29 to go before their 11th short of the second. The Jets turned the puck over at the blue line. Poehling pounced and raced up the ice to beat Brossoy from long range for the sixth time of the season.

Connor got his first point in six games after returning from a 16-game absence from a knee injury when he scored his team-leading 19th goal with 5:12 left. Brossoit made 16 saves.

The Jets haven't won two games since acquiring Sean Monahan from Montreal for a draft pick. Monahan scored 35 points with the Canadiens.

Winnipeg defenseman Brenden Dillon served the first of his three-game suspension for checking Pittsburgh's Noel Acciari in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Penguins.

Philadelphia played without defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (illness).

The Flyers evened their home record at 12-2-2, completing the season sweep of the Jets. They won 2-0 in Winnipeg on January 3rd.

NEXT UP

Jets: Host Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

Sheets: Host Seattle on Saturday night.

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