FAMILY members and friends back home in Finland stayed up to the wee hours Friday morning to watch Kristian Vesalainen make his NHL debut and record his first point in St. Louis.
There was no razzle-dazzle in effect, just a smart, simple hockey play by Winnipeg’s rookie forward midway through the third period that helped set up Brandon Tanev’s goal to increase the Jets lead to 5-0 over the Blues.
Vesalainen controlled the puck on the left boards just inside the Jets blue line and fed centre Jack Roslovic, who flipped a back-hand pass to Tanev streaking down the right side.