Vilardi scores twice, Jets top Islanders for 8th straight win

“You learn your lessons as you play the games,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “You win games. You learn things. There's areas you need to improve. You lose games, you have to move forward. The biggest thing this group has done is put stuff behind us. Whether a win or loss, whether you individually had a great game or bad game… How we respond the next night is what I've always tried to pound away here.”

Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo also scored, and Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each had two assists for the Jets (39-14-3), who became the first in the NHL to reach 80 points this season. Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves, including 18 in the third period.

“It’s just the usual from him,” Vilardi said of Hellebuyck, who leads the NHL in wins (34) and shutouts (six). “He’s incredible, always on top of his game. He’s so consistent that it’s really incredible to watch as his teammate on the ice and on the bench. It’s pretty cool to watch day in and day out.”

Hellebuyck will represent the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off from Feb. 12-20.

“Our team defense, that’s kind of what we pride ourselves on," Vilardi said. "When we’re doing that well, we know we have a good chance to win because 'Bucky' is going to make the saves he’s expected to make, and most of the time he’s going to make the saves he’s not expected to make. So as long as we keep the grade A's that the other team is able to have to a limited number, we feel pretty confident that we’re going to win most nights.”

Kyle Palmieri, Simon Holmstrom, and Marc Gatcomb scored for the Islanders (25-22-7), who had won eight of nine (8-1-0). Ilya Sorokin, who had won his previous seven decisions and lost for the first time since Jan. 16, made 23 saves.

“[Hellebuyck] made some big saves,” New York forward Matt Martin said. “He made a nice save on [Casey Cizikas] there on the doorstep and, I mean, he’s the goalie he is for a reason and his record shows that. So I think he's a guy who’s going to give them a chance to win, and no different than than [Sorokin]. I think he gives us a chance to win every night.”

Holmstrom gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 1:05 of the first period when his centering pass on a 3-on-1 rush caught Jets defenseman Neal Pionk’s stick and slid under Hellebuyck.