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 The Ducks beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 to take a 1-0 lead in what
promises to be a rough-and-tumble, best-of-seven series.
Anaheim spoiled the long-awaited return of a team from Winnipeg to
the playoffs. The original Jets, now the Arizona Coyotes, last
played in the 1996 postseason.
Anaheim right winger Corey Perry contributed two goals and two
assists, including the deciding goal that was awarded upon review.
Defenseman Sami Vatanen and center Ryan Getzlaf added a goal and two
assists each.
Perry led the Ducks in goals during the regular season, Getzlaf was
their top point-producer and Vatanen paced their defenseman in both
goals and points. The Ducks also won more games than anyone when
trailing after two periods, as they did Thursday.
"We knew we were down, we knew it was going to be tough, but we
didn't think it was impossible," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said.
"For the most part, your best players have to be your best players,
and they were tonight."
Left winger Adam Lowry and right winger Drew Stafford scored for
Winnipeg.
Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen turned aside 25 of 27 Winnipeg shots,
while Jets netminder Ondrej Pavelec made 29 saves in defeat.
Winnipeg took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but a pair of
power-play goals and one even-strength tally propelled the Ducks to
victory.
"I didn't know they were known for a third-period push," Stafford
said. "We can control some of those penalties, so we need to make
sure we prevent giving their skill guys that extra time and space."
The Ducks tied the game at 2 with a power-play goal 1:09 into the
third period. Vatanen slid low along the right side of the zone,
faked a shot and dropped it to left winger Patrick Maroon. The puck
bounced to Perry, who tapped it home.
With 6:39 remaining, Perry appeared to push the puck past Pavelec
again, but the call on the ice was no goal and play continued. At
the next stoppage, the play was reviewed and it was determined that
the entire puck crossed the line as it hit Pavelec's leg. The time
was placed back on the clock and the Ducks had a 3-2 lead, albeit a
belated one.
"I had a good feeling that (Pavelec's) pad was over the line," said
Perry, who had thrown his hands up in celebration immediately. "It's
always nice to hear them say it was a goal."
Right winger Michael Frolik's boarding penalty sent the Ducks to the
power play with 3:51 left to play. The Ducks would seal the victory,
capitalizing on the power play again when Getzlaf pivoted and
snapped a wrist shot past Pavelec from the left faceoff dot to make
it 4-2.
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The Ducks opened the scoring 1:57 into the game when Vatanen's slap
shot from the right point beat a screened Pavelec to the far side.
The Jets responded 49 seconds later, when a tic-tac-toe play across
the entire offensive zone was finished by Lowry off a long,
cross-ice pass from defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Winnipeg took its first lead five minutes into the second period.
Stafford, leading the rush, initially looked to pass but then glided
in off the left-wing wall to send a wrister past Andersen on the
short side.
"I think it's gonna ramp up, because as the series goes on it's
going to get more and more intense and it's going to get closer and
closer to a winner," Jets defenseman Tyler Myers said.
The Ducks expected nothing different.
"If you play seven games like that, you're going to begin to dislike
people after a while," Boudreau said.
NOTES: Anaheim was without G John Gibson (upper body) and C Nate
Thompson (upper body). G Jason LaBarbera dressed as the backup and
C/RW Chris Wagner suited up in place of Thompson. ... The Ducks did
not dress D James Wisniewski, going instead with D Simon Despres.
... Winnipeg C Mathieu Perreault (lower body) was a game-time
decision and ultimately did not return to the lineup. The Jets were
also without D Paul Postma (lower body) and D Grant Clitsome (back),
who is on injured reserve. ... The Ducks were 3-0-0 against the Jets
during the regular season, but the teams had not met since Jan. 11
when Teemu Selanne, a former Ducks and Jets player, had his number
retired by Anaheim. The Jets later made significant moves, most
notably a seven-player deal with Buffalo.
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