Jets blow leads, drop overtime decision to Ducks

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Published Jan 02, 2025  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  3 minute read

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The Winnipeg Jets coughed up two leads against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and choked away one of the first two points of their home stand in the process.

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Frittering away a 2-0 first-period advantage was the Jets’ first mistake, allowing the Ducks to score with less than two minutes to go their second.

And when Anaheim’s Troy Terry scored his second of the game 3:34 into overtime, they’d made their last in a 4-3 loss.

“Our second period was probably our worst period,” head coach Scott Arniel said. “In the first, we were great and we had all kinds of opportunities, got the lead, and then in the second period, through the neutral zone, we turned some pucks over and let them get into some rush situations.

“And in the third, we went out and dominated. We got the lead again late and gave up that (tying goal).”

Playing their first of eight straight on home ice, it seemed the Jets would escape with the two points when Alex Iafallo broke a 2-2 tied on a wraparound with 2:44 left.

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That’s when they quacked.

Less than a minute later and with the Anaheim net empty, the Jets turned the puck over in their own end.

Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas scored his first of the year from the point – ex-Jet Jacob Trouba provided the screen – sending the game into extra time.

“A little bit of the mental side of things,” Arniel said, suggesting fatigue was a factor. “With four (games) in six (days), I’m not using that as an excuse but when you start seeing those kinds of mistakes, it has to drop into there somehow.”

Nik Ehlers was credited with the late giveaway. He also had a breakaway chance in overtime, but was turned aside by John Gibson.

When Connor Hellebuyck couldn’t stop Terry on a Ducks two-on-one, his bid for a 300th career victory was dashed for at least one more night.

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Seconds before the winning Anaheim rush, Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry had crashed into the Ducks’ goal, sending it off its moorings. But play continued.

“Unless I hear the whistle, just keep playing,” Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said.

While the fans booed, Arniel wasn’t complaining, either.

“That’s the league rule… if the attacking team knocks the net off, the team defending has a chance to take off and go,” the coach said.

In the first period it looked like the Jets might run away with it, the top threesome in the NHL striking just 33 seconds in.

Gabe Vilardi’s steal and a no-look pass from Kyle Connor produced Mark Scheifele’s team-leading 23rd of the year.

On a late-period rush, Lowry notched his 10th, converting a pass from Iafallo for a two-goal Winnipeg lead.

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With barely a minute left in the first, Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson gave his team some life, scoring on a nice deflection that hit the post, bounced off the back of Hellebuyck and in.

The Ducks tied it – and removed all talk of a cakewalk – when Terry’s quick one-timer got between a sliding Hellebuyck’s legs seven minutes into the second.

Not even two chances for the NHL’s No. 1 power play were enough to regain the lead for the Jets in the middle 20.

“We did a lot of good things at points in the game and gave them momentum at other points,” Morrissey said. “We did a decent job of generating zone time. Just disappointed that we gave up the second point.”

Morrissey picked up two assists.

Final shots were 30-24 for Winnipeg. The Jets had the game’s only two power plays.

Up next, Game 2 of the home stand on Saturday against Detroit.

paul.friesen@kleinmedia.caX: @friesensunmedia

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