Jets at Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday in their final game before the NHL All-Star break, looking to carry over the momentum from a dazzling start in Tuesday’s victory over the New York Rangers. Anaheim responded to a lineup shakeup after Sunday’s loss to San Jose, scoring four times in the first period of a 6-3 victory.
“We’ll take it and move on,” Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle told reporters afterward. “We know we have to be better than what we were (Tuesday). That was our message.” The Jets have won three in a row - all three by one goal - and also started fast Tuesday, scoring three times in the opening period before grinding out a 5-4 overtime victory at San Jose. Bryan Little’s second goal of the game came 18 seconds into extra time, giving Winnipeg its first victory in overtime this season and pushing the Jets into first place in the Central Division. “It was definitely back and forth the whole game,” Little told the media afterward. “It was a fast, hard game. It feels good to come out with two points.”
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE JETS (29-13-7): Little matched a season high with three points Tuesday while Joel Armia added a pair of goals to give him nine on the season, one off his career high. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won his 26th game of the season, stopping 29 of 33 shots, and has allowed two goals or fewer in four of his past six starts. Forward Patrik Laine leads the Jets with 21 goals and ranks second in the NHL in power-play goals (11).
ABOUT THE DUCKS (23-17-9): Center Ryan Getzlaf scored a goal with two assists Tuesday, leading the way as six different Anaheim players scored - including forward Corey Perry, who was dropped to the fourth line. John Gibson stopped 41-of-44 shots in goal, two days after being pulled in the third period of a 6-2 loss to the Sharks - the only Ducks loss in their past four games. Center Rickard Rakell has seven goals and two assists in his past seven home games, and leads Anaheim in goals (18) and points (36).
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg D Dmitry Kulikov left Tuesday’s game in the first period after being driven into the boards face first.
2. Getzlaf has scored two goals with three assists in his past two games, and 11 points (four goals) in nine games this month.
3. The Jets are 14-3-0 against the Pacific Division this season, winning each of the last eight matchups.