Winnipeg Jets Send Anaheim Packing with 11th straight loss

The Anaheim Ducks suffered their 11th straight loss last night after the Winnipeg Jets defeated the embattled franchise 4-3, the longest in their 24 year history.

After going toe to toe, the Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks went into overtime, but less than five minutes in, it was all over after Bryan Little scored the winning goal 4:49 and extend Anaheim’s their losing streak to the worse in the league.

Also scoring for the Jets was Ben Chiarot, Patrik Lane and Blake Wheeler. Bryan Little, Andrew Copp, Josh Morrissey, Mark Scheifele, Brandon Tanev and Jacob Trouba each were awarded assists as Winnipeg earned their fourth straight win at home.

Anaheim’s Andrew Cogliano, Rickard Rakell and Brian Gibbons each scored for the Ducks, and assists were given to Carter Rowney with three, Daniel Sprong with two and Brandon Montour with one. Connor Hellebuyck has 28 saved for the night, and John Gibson had 30.

Anaheim was first to score after Brian Gibbons sent a shot on goal and Ryan Kessler appeared to tip it in, but upon review, the goal was awarded to Gibbons. That put the Ducks up 1-0, and before the first period closed, the Ducks made it 2-0 with a goal from Rickard Rakell after picking up a pass from Sprong while charging up the middle.

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Blake Wheeler managed to reduce the lead to 2-1 with 59 seconds remaining in the first with a wrist shot from the left circle that went past John Gibbons, who with the Jets screening his view was unable to stop the shot. Patrik Lane tied the game 2:24 seconds into the second before Anaheim made it 3-2 with four minutes remaining in the second.

The Jets continued to push with both goaltenders coming up with some big saves. With 5:55 to go in the third, Ben Chiarot powered off a wrist that that appeared like Gibson didn’t even see to tie the game once again, and that saw the game going scoreless and overtime being forced.

As overtime got underway, both teams had multiple scoring opportunities that passed them by, but it was the Bryan Little who with 10.1 seconds left on the overtime clock scrambled in front of the Ducks net and chipped in the puck.

The loss was not how the Ducks, who sit fourth in the Pacific Division, wanted to begin a five game road trip, especially after leading 2-0 in the first period. The 11th loss in a row will impact how the Ducks are seen by bookmakers such as 888sport, who with up to $250 up for grabs in new player bonuses, will not place favourable odds for Anaheim to fare well in future games.

Winnipeg outshot the Ducks 22-20 and both Patrick Lane, who was playing his 200th NHL career game, Mark Scheifele and Bryan Little managed to extend their point streak to five and seven games respectively. Winnipeg is next due to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday before heading out on a two game road trip before the All-Star game. Anaheim continues their current road trip with stops in Detroit, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York before returning to welcome the St. Louis Blues on the 23rd.