It’s Monday, which means it’s time to hand out some hardware. As usual, a number of players made a bid for our Weekend Warrior award during Saturday and Sunday’s action. Brayden Point had a massive 8 scoring chances on net and scored his 40th goal of the season, but he ultimately finished with just one point in a Tampa loss. Alexandar Georgiev nearly became our first-ever two-time winner after stifling the Leafs offense for a second time this season. In the end though, we had to give the nod to Kyle Connor. Connor recorded his first career hat trick and added an assist in a dominant 5-0 Jets win.

Connor was on fire all night, putting Preds players on the wrong side of the highlight reel multiple times. First, he went around P.K. Subban with ease to open the scoring with his 30th goal of the season, reaching the mark for a second-straight year.

He and Kevin Hayes were then gifted a 2-on-1 when Ryan Johansen and Matt Irwin ran into each other. Connor received a feed from Hayes before beating Pekka Rinne five-hole with a nice deke.

He topped off his hat-trick with a one-timer from the right circle with nine seconds left and a knee on the ice, for good measure.

Connor’s career night came at the best possible time, as Winnipeg’s win not only gave them a four-point lead in the Central over the Predators but also clinched a playoff spot for the Canadian team. Pairing him with trade deadline acquisition Kevin Hayes has been a success so far. When both players have been on the ice at the same time, the Jets have outscored their opposition 11-6. Hayes had a big part to play in Connor’s hat trick, assisting on all three goals, including primary assists on the first two scores.

So congratulations Kyle Connor! With a career night in a key game for the Jets, you are this week’s Weekend Warrior.