Winnipeg Jets Fall Short In Close Encounter With Anaheim Ducks 3-2

The Jets suffered an unfortunate 3-2 loss on Wednesday, December 18th, when they took on the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center after a two-game winning streak after a 3-2 overtime loss against the Vegas Golden Knights on December 12th. Despite the effort, Winnipeg’s strong start wasn’t enough, as Anaheim rallied late in the game to secure the victory. Troy Terry scored the game-winning goal with 26 seconds left in regulation, lifting the Ducks to a comeback win. Frank Vatrano scored the other two Ducks’ goals, and Gabriel Vilardi and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets. The Jets head back home to Winnipeg on Saturday to host the Minnesota Wild, and the Ducks host the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Winnipeg Jets Lineup:

Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi

Perfetti – Namestnikov – Ehlers

Niederreiter – Lowry – Appleton

Barron – Kupari – Iafallo

Morrissey – DeMelo

Fleury – Pionk

Stanley – Heinola

Comrie

Hellebuyck

Anaheim Ducks Lineup:

Vatrano – Strome – Terry

McGinn – Carlsson – Killorn

Gauthier – McTavish – Fabbri

Johnston – Lundestrom – Harkins

LaCombe – Gudas

Mintyukov – Dumoulin

Zellweger – Trouba

Dostal

Gibson

After a scoreless opening frame, Frank Vatrano scored the first of the night early in the second period at 15:15. Radko Gudas shot from the point with a slap shot, and Vatrano had been in front, tipping in Gudas’ shot to put the Ducks ahead 1-0. Gabriel Vilardi tied it up just nine seconds into the power play when Nikolaj Ehlers had made a one-touch centering pass to him at the top of the crease, the puck hit Vilardi’s skate before swiping it into the net for his 14th goal of the season with 9:39 on the clock.

Mark Scheifele put the Jets in a 2-1 lead, their first lead of the game early into the third at 15:47 with his 18th goal of the season when he scored on a one-timer from the left circle. Kyle Connor slid a pass to Scheifele after he had carried the puck through all three zones, and then pulled up above the right circle before making the pass. Through traffic later in the frame with 4:46 on the clock, Frank Vatrano picked up his second of the night on a slap shot to knot it up 2-2. Troy Terry struck for the game-winner with only 26 seconds left to play when he scored off a turnover for the 3-2 victory.

Notes:

– Nikolaj Ehlers had been a late addition to the lineup as he had been taken off injured reserve prior to the game, taking the place of Nikita Chibrikov. …Ville Heinola took the place of Colin Miller in the lineup as well.

– The Jets didn’t record their first shot on goal in the first period until 11:28, then they didn’t record their first shot in the second period until 9:49, but they went on their second power play just 26 seconds later when Ross Johnston was penalized for roughing Nino Niederreiter.

– Kyle Connor picked up a pair of assists, and Eric Comrie made a total of 28 saves for Winnipeg.

– Frank Vatrano not only scored the game-winning goal, he also had a three-point night, picking up two goals and an assist.

– Radko Gudas picked up a pair of assists, and Lukas Dostal made a total of 21 saves for Anaheim.