Ducks 4, Jets 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Jets, making their first postseason berth since relocating to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011-12 and the franchise's first since the Thrashers made it in 2006-07, were offered a bitter welcome by the West's No. 1 seed, the Anaheim Ducks, on Thursday at Honda Center.
The Ducks won 4-2, getting prolific performances from their top point producers, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Anaheim right winger Corey Perry contributed two goals and two assists, including the deciding goal that was awarded upon review. Defenseman Sami Vatanan and center Ryan Getlzaf added a goal and two assists each.
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 stopped 29 shots in defeat.
Winnipeg took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but a pair of goals by Perry and one Getlzaf propelled the Ducks to the win.
The Ducks tied it 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 droped 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. The time was placed back on the clock and the Ducks had a 3-2 lead, albeit a belated one.
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 shot past Pavelec from the left faceoff dot to make it 4-2.
The Ducks opened the scoring in the series 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. They scored off the rush as Stafford initially looked to pass but then glided in off the left-wing wall to send a wrister past Andersen on the short side.
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.