NHL playoffs 2019: Jets forward Blake Wheeler ends 13-game goal drought in Game 2 loss to Blues

Rudi Schuller

NHL playoffs 2019: Jets forward Blake Wheeler ends 13-game goal drought in Game 2 loss to Blues image

Blake Wheeler avoided a monthlong goal drought by a single day.

The Jets' captain hadn't scored since March 14, but on Friday night Wheeler finally got himself back on the scoresheet with Winnipeg's opening goal in a 4-3 Game 2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. It was also Wheeler's first point of the playoffs; the 32-year-old had no goals or assists in 17:03 of ice time in Game 1, a 2-1 St. Louis victory on Wednesday.

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Receiving a pinpoint pass from teammate Mark Scheifele, Wheeler made no mistake from point-blank range, one-timing the puck over Blues goalie Jordan Binnington's left shoulder.

Wheeler went 13 games (12 regular-season, one playoff) without scoring, an uncharacteristic dry spell for a player who has reached the 20-goal plateau in six consecutive seasons (seven total). Unfortunately for the Jets, Wheeler's return to goal-scoring form wasn't enough to overcome a Blues team that took a 2-0 first-round series lead with the victory.

Rudi Schuller