Tyler Myers preserves shutout by blocking shots with his face (Video)

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tyler Myers deserves a lot of credit for his team’s 1-0 shutout over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night.

Myers stopped a flurry of Pittsburgh activity in front of his own net with his face in the final minute of play at MTS Centre. The above video shows the 6-foot-8 Myers using every inch of his large frame to prevent the equalizer.

“I don’t usually come after a game and talk about a save you made as a defenseman. It was a desperation play. They got the puck to the net and fortunately I was able to get a face on it,” Myers said in postgame audio posted by Illegal Curve. “Desperate play to just try to get in front of it and got lucky.” 

The win by the Jets was much needed. It was just their second victory in their last six games, and came after being outscored 7-2 at Edmonton and Calgary in their previous two contests before the Christmas break. At 16-17-2 the Jets are last place in the ultra-competitive Central Division.  

The shutout was the first for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in his NHL career. The rookie stopped all 30 Pittsburgh shots on goal to improve to 6-3-0 on the season.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper