3 Major Winnipeg Jets Takeaways: Hellebuycks stands tall with 43 saves, depth scoring shines and more from 4-1 win over Minnesota Wild 

The Winnipeg Jets are the NHL's hottest team, and they intended to let the Minnesota Wild know that they would have no problem pushing them around in their own house.

The Jets improved to an astonishing 18-4 through the first 22 games of the 2024-25 NHL season, a 4-1 triumph over the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

Winnipeg continued to hold a firm grasp on the first overall place in the NHL, while the Wild, who are having a fine season of their own, fell to 13-4-4.

Jake Middleton gave the local fans something to cheer about when he opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season as both teams approached the midway point of the first period.

Less than two minutes later, the Jets tied the score thanks to Alex Iaffalo's third goal of the year.

Former Wild forward Nino Niederreiter, who Minnesota fans will forever remember after he scored the overtime game-winner in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, burned his old team by giving the Jets a 2-1 lead with his ninth goal.

Entering the third period with a one-goal lead, Iaffalo struck again with his second of the night and fourth of the season, increasing the lead to 3-1. Finally, Jets captain Adam Lowry sealed the victory by scoring into the vacated net with goaltender Filip Gustavsson lifted for the extra attacker.

Gustavsson finished with 28 saves in the loss, while Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was far busier with a 43-save performance.

3 major takeaways from Winnipeg Jets' 4-1 win over Minnesota Wild

#3. Jets let the Wild know who is boss in Central Division

While not many pundits had either team as a force in the Central Divison, let alone the Western Conference, both teams have impressed and silenced their doubters.

Unfortunately for the Wild, they've had to play second fiddle to the Jets for Central Division supremacy. They find themselves six points back of Winnipeg for the Division lead after Monday's game.

#2. Once again, Winnipeg's depth scoring came through

It's a fortunate thing to have balanced scoring throughout the lineup, a feature that the Jets boast.

The pair of goals from Iafallo plus an empty net tally from Lowry gave the two players a combined nine goals. Furthermore, Kyle Connor (13 goals), Mark Scheifele (12 goals) and Nikolaj Ehlers (nine goals) lead the way offensively.

Besides Niederreiter's ninth tally, it was a night for the Jet's depth to play the main scoring role.

#1. Connor Hellebuyck intends to keep Vezina Trophy for himself

Already the reigning Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goaltender from last season, Hellebuyck turned in another vintage performance between the pipes by making a season-high 43 saves, earning his 15th win and making some NHL history in the process.

Not only do the Jets have a balanced lineup, but their last line of defense is at the top of his game right now – a terrifying prospect for anyone attempting to get the puck by him.

The Jets are in action against the Los Angeles Kings next at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.