Connor scores in return, Jets defeat slumping Islanders

WINNIPEG -- Kyle Connor scored in his return to help the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-2 win against the New York Islanders at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday.

Connor, who missed the previous 16 games with a knee injury, scored into an empty net at 18:38 to make it 4-2.

“He was impressive. He was a threat with the puck every time,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “You give him the puck and something good is going to happen. Give him credit, because most guys take two or three games to get their timing and their reads and everything. He just stepped in there tonight like he hadn’t missed 16 games. That’s very, very impressive.”

Gabriel Vilardi, Neal Pionk and Mason Appleton also scored for the Jets (29-10-4), who were coming off a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday that ended an eight-game winning streak and 14-game point streak. Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves.

“When you go on such a long win streak and then you drop one game, you want to get right back to your winning ways,” Appleton said. “That’s obviously a really good hockey team, a really disciplined team. They won’t give you much, but we found a way to win tonight and we’re back on the right track. We think that good teams don’t lose two games in a row, especially at home, so that was a big win for our club.”

Anders Lee scored twice, and Ilya Sorokin made 40 saves for the Islanders (19-15-10), who have lost three straight and five of six.

“I thought we played a pretty solid game,” New York coach Lane Lambert said. “It’s a good hockey team, we know that. I thought we had plenty of chances, plenty of chances to tie the game in the third period, clearly, and potentially win the game. And an unfortunate broken skate blade cost us a goal against. So, I thought it was better.”

Vilardi gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 9:41 of the first period when Adam Lowry's redirection of Josh Morrissey's point shot deflected in off him in front.

Lee tied it 1-1 at 15:53, redirecting Mike Reilly's point shot two seconds after a power play expired.

“We had chances throughout the game I thought,” Lee said. “Guys were working, guys responded. Obviously, it wasn’t enough to get the job done tonight, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

Pionk put the Jets back in front 2-1 with a power-play goal at 15:19 of the second period. He scored into an open net from the right circle after Sorokin, who had lost his skate blade while making a save on Cole Perfetti earlier in the play, couldn't get back in position.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a goalie without a skate blade get scored on, so some unlucky bounces,” Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield said. "I thought it was a better response, but we’ve got to dig deep to find a way.”

Appleton extended the lead to 3-1 at 17:58 of the second when he swatted a rebound off Adam Pelech's stick and into the net off Sorokin's left pad from along the goal line. It was his first goal since Nov. 18 (26 games).

“When you have quite the streak of not scoring, you’ve just got to get a greasy one around the net,” Appleton said. “That was kind of funny how that one went in, but I’ll certainly take it.”

Lee scored 35 seconds into the third period with a shot off Hellebuyck from below the goal line to cut it to 3-2.

“I was just able to get a couple to go tonight,” Lee said. “It’s a great building to play in, a great building to visit and come in and play with fans that are engaged (and) care a lot about their team. You feel that as an opponent. Our line had a good game tonight. I just happened to be on the right end of a couple shots.”

NOTES: Lowry has six points (one goal, five assists) in his past five games. ... Lee has scored 16 goals in 19 career games against Winnipeg. ... Islanders forward Pierre Engvall did not play and is day to day with an upper-body injury.