The Winnipeg Jets took another quick lead in California, couldn’t hold on, and then went to extras. This time, however, they couldn’t finish it off.
The Winnipeg Jets love starting fast, and they did it again against the Ducks. Patrik Laine put an unassisted goal into the net less with than four minutes into the game. The Jets have scored 14 goals now in the first five minutes of the game, fourth in the NHL. They’ve scored three goals in the first minute and have a 23-1-4 record when scoring first. That’s Incredible.
Unfortunately, Adam Henrique made it a new game when he scored his own unassisted goal three minutes later. That one came off of a turnover by Patrik Laine. This became what we all thought it could, a back and forth, slug ’em out kind of game. Heavy hits and guys limping off the ice aplenty. In the second, Ritchie scored to give Anaheim the lead. About two minutes later, a great forechecking play by Brandon Tanev got him a chance and he put it in to tie it at two.
In the third, guess what? We got goals thirty seconds apart. Ryan Kesler scored, and just a little later, Jack Roslovic scored. Big moment there for the kid, who finally gets his first NHL goal. I know all fans are proud of him. Blake Wheeler slid late in the period and took out John Gibson, who was having a solid game. Ryan Miller came on and did not make a save.
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Thankfully, a dude on the east coast gets what he wants on two recaps for west coast games. They both went to overtime. Thanks, hockey gods.
The 3-on-3 period was pretty much all Anaheim. 9-1 in shot attempts, but none went in the net. Six shots for the ducks, zero for the Jets. Oh well, their defense held up and they would settle things in the shootout.
Hellebuyck stopped Perry for the first. Bryan Little was 3-3 in the shootout thus far. He couldn’t get one past Miller though. Ryan Getzlaf followed that by firing it wide of the net. Patrik Laine came out to rousing boos, beat Miller and…hit the post. Rickard Rakell missed his shot but he personally ended up in the net. Blake Wheeler had a chance for a win but missed.
Kase and Matt Hendricks missed their chances next. Adam Henrique, one of the game’s goal scorers, ripped a backhander past Hellebuyck for the first winner. Ryan Miller would then stop Mathieu Perreault to get the Ducks two points. For shame. The Winnipeg Jets pick up three of four points on a swing through Cali.
White Out’s Three Stars
- Jack Roslovic – Gotta give it to the kid for scoring his first NHL goal.
- Adam Henrique – Any other night, he gets the first one. A goal in the second and a shootout winner, that’s all you need. He also played a solid game with a 73% in faceoffs.
- Connor Hellebuyck – Good to see him back here. I know he lost, but hey, stopping 36 of 39, 7 for 7 on the powerplay is pretty good. He had a good overtime period and allowed one of five in on the shootout. It isn’t his fault the Jets didn’t walk away with four. It was a good game for Tanev, also, with 6 hits.
Next: Nic Petan, from top prospect to barely holding on
What’s Next?
The All-Star Break, of course! The Winnipeg Jets don’t play until the 30th, against league-leading Tampa. That should be a fun matchup. Meanwhile, enjoy the festivities. The game itself is on the 28th. Blake Wheeler and Connor Hellebuyck are the lone Jets representatives. Pitiful.