Williams scores twice, Hurricanes defeat Jets 4-1

RALEIGH, N.C. — Justin Williams scored a pair of goals in his second game back in the NHL, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.

Williams scored the winning goal in a shootout for a 2-1 win over the Islanders in his first game after signing a free-agent contract with the Hurricanes on Sunday. It was Williams’ first game since helping Carolina reach the Eastern Conference final last year. He took an extended off-season and signed with the club Jan. 8.

In his second game Tuesday, the 19th-year veteran scored a power-play goal in the first period and added another goal just as a power play ended in the third period.

Teuvo Teravainen had a goal and two assists, and Martin Necas also scored for the Hurricanes, who reached the All-Star break with two straight wins after a three-game skid. Petr Mrazek stopped 16 shots for Carolina.

Patrik Laine scored for the Jets, who have lost three in a row and five of six. Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for Winnipeg.

Necas opened the scoring just 2:28 into the game when he crossed in front of the goal and backhanded a shot past Hellebuyck. Williams stretched the lead to 2-0 when he deflected a pass from Teravainen into the net to help Carolina end a streak of 18 consecutive scoreless power plays.

Laine cut the deficit to 2-1 just 56 seconds after Williams’ first goal. taking a feed from Mark Scheifele and scoring on a shot from the slot.

Teravainen restored the two-goal lead with 1:38 remaining in the first period off a pass from Sebastian Aho.

The Jets controlled play for much of the second period, but Mrazek held strong. One of his best stops came when he was hit in the torso by a shot from Jack Roslovic, who broke in alone while Carolina was in the midst of a line change.

NOTES: Laine has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in eight career games against the Hurricanes. … With 12 goals on the season, Necas ranks third among NHL rookies. … Carolina is 16-0-1 this season when leading after one period.

UP NEXT

Jets: Visit Columbus on Wednesday.

Hurricanes: Have nine days off for the All-Star break before playing host to Vegas on Jan. 31.

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Ken Tysiac, The Associated Press