Kyle Connor scores twice as Winnipeg Jets beat Canadiens 4-1

Kyle Connor tilted his head up to the jumbotron and saw the clock winding down. When he looked back down, he spotted an opportunity to score.

The Winnipeg Jets' star winger chipped the puck in deep and parked himself in the slot.

Teammate David Gustafsson then went to work with a powerful forecheck before setting Connor up with 1.5 seconds left in the second period of Winnipeg's 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

"There was only five or six seconds [left]," Connor said. "Gussie made an incredible play down low just to win that battle, and they kind of just lost coverage there.

"Found some time in the slot."

While Connor found time, the Canadiens lost track of it.

"That third goal hurts," Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said. "At the end of the period, I don't think we had to give that up. We didn't play the clock."

The back-breaking goal was Connor's second of the night and 29th of the season, putting the Jets up 3-1 heading into the final frame.

"Tough one for them to have, big one for us," said Jets coach Scott Arniel, before marvelling at Connor's wicked release from the hash marks.

"We've seen that, right? That shot," he said. "I've seen a lot of good shooters, guys with quick releases, but he's in the top five for me with some of the best at shooting that puck."

Gustafsson, a fourth-liner, earned a point in his fourth consecutive game thanks to his effort. Otherwise, the Jets' top guns led the way for Winnipeg.

Vezina Trophy favourite Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves and helped Winnipeg withstand a dominant opening 10 minutes from the Canadiens.

After the Jets controlled the second period, Winnipeg took its foot off the gas in the third, and Hellebuyck stood tall again.

"We didn't want to put him