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 Robidas scored 16 seconds into overtime, completing the Anaheim
Ducks' rally from a 4-0 deficit to a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg
Jets on Monday night at Honda Center.
It was the largest comeback in franchise history for the Ducks
(49-18-8). For the Jets (33-33-10), it was a bitter defeat that all
but ended their bid for the postseason.
"I know I'm not here to score goals, but it's always nice to be able
to chip in," said the 37-year-old Robidas, who scored his first goal
with the Ducks since being obtained in an early-March trade with the
Dallas Stars. "To be able to get the win I think was the most
important thing for us."
Anaheim closed within a point of the St. Louis Blues for the top
spot in the Western Conference.
"You're just awfully disappointed because you liked so much of what
you saw and then to have it go away from you like that," Winnipeg
coach Paul Maurice said. "It's just frustrating. It's tough to lose
a game like that."
Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 33 shots, while Winnipeg
netminder Ondrej Pavelec finished with 31 saves.
"When you always believe you can win, you're never out of the game,"
Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I think that was what happened
tonight."
Right winger Corey Perry, on a pass by center Ryan Getzlaf from
behind the net, tied the score at 4 by bouncing a shot off Pavelec
and into the net with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. The goal
came after Anaheim pulled Andersen.
"You have to give them credit, but we didn't push quite as hard in
the third," Jets defenseman Mark Stuart said. "You saw it with the
shots. They pushed hard. They had over 20 shots in the third."
The Ducks launched 24 shots to only six for the Jets in the third
period after being outshot 31-11 over the first two periods.
Two goals in the opening five minutes of the third sparked Anaheim,
cutting Winnipeg's lead to a one before Perry forced overtime.
Rookie defenseman Hampus Lindholm pulled Anaheim to within 4-3 by
rebounding a miss from center Daniel Winnik and converting at 4:16
of the third.
That goal came on the heels of a power-play tally by Getzlaf, who
fielded a pass from left winger Patrick Maroon through traffic
around the Jets' net and scored his 31st goal of the season with
3:06 gone in the third.
The Jets started aggressively, scoring twice in the opening period
and dominating the Ducks for two periods.
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"It was really bad," Robidas said of his team's play in the first
two periods. "We weren't happy with it."
Defenseman Jacob Trouba scored off a backhand pass from right winger
Michael Frolik for a 1-0 Jets lead at 8:48 of the first.
Winnipeg made it 2-0 with 6:21 left in the first. Right winger Matt
Halischuk put in a rebound following a shot by left winger Evander
Kane that bounced off Andersen in front of the net.
Jets winger Blake Wheeler added a power-play goal 33 seconds into
the second period, when he gathered a pass from winger Dustin
Byfuglien and scored for a 3-0 advantage. It was Wheeler's team-high
27th goal.
The boos started raining down on the Ducks midway through the second
period when defenseman Zach Redmond slipped a pass between two Ducks
and connected with rushing left winger Eric Tangradi, who scored for
a 4-0 lead at 10:54 of the second period.
Center Nick Bonino put Anaheim on the board, scoring his 20th goal
of the season with 2:16 remaining in the second, cutting the margin
to 4-1.
NOTES: D Stephane Robidas' game-winning goal was his first since he
delivered one against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 9, 2012,
when he was playing for the Dallas Stars. ... Retiring Anaheim RW
Teemu Selanne faced the Jets for the final time. He started his
career with the original Winnipeg franchise. ... Anaheim D Mark
Fistric is expected to miss the final two games of the homestand
with a lower body injury. He has been out since March 15. ...
Winnipeg D Zach Redmond earned his first assist of the season on LW
Eric Tangradi's second-period goal. Redmond, D Ben Chiarot and G
Michael Hutchinson were recalled from the St. John's IceCaps of the
AHL on Sunday. ... After their visit to Phoenix to face the Coyotes
on Tuesday, the Jets return home to meet the Pittsburgh Penguins on
Thursday. ... The Ducks have seven regular-season games remaining,
four of them at home. They host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and
the Nashville Predators on Friday.
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