Chris Kreider’s late goal propels Ducks past Jets
Chris Kreider scored with 15 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Anaheim Ducks a 5-4 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Friday.
Kreider and Beckett Sennecke broke out on a 2-on-1 rush late in the extra frame, and Sennecke earned his third assist of the game in feeding Kreider the game-winning pass.
The Ducks are on a four-game winning streak, and are 11-2-0 in their last 13 games.
Pavel Mintyukov had a goal and an assist for the Ducks. Jacob Trouba, Leo Carlsson, and Ryan Peopling collected Anaheim's other goals.
Lukas Dostal stopped 29 of 33 shots to earn his 23rd win of the season. Dostal also received some help from his net, as the Jets had five shots hit the post either directly or on a deflection.
Winnipeg has earned at least one point in four of its last five games (2-1-2), but missed another chance to gain more ground in the playoff race.
Alex Iafallo and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist, and Logan Stanley and Cole Perfetti each had two assists. Gabriel Vilardi and Elias Salomonsson also scored for Winnipeg.
Connor Hellebuyck playing well in a losing effort, stopping 35 of 40 Ducks shots.
Just 74 seconds after the puck was dropped, Iafallo scored on Winnipeg's first shot of the game. The Jets had another early strike 2:25 into the second period, as Vilardi scored a power-play goal on a one-timer from the slot.
Anaheim outshot Winnipeg 17-14 during a high-octane second period. Amidst all of the top-tier chances, Trouba's seemingly innocuous point shot barely beat a screened Hellebuyck 41 seconds before the second intermission.
Winnipeg ambushed the Ducks again 1:27 into the third period on Salomonsson's first NHL goal and point in the rookie's 15th game in the league.
The Ducks equalized the score by the midpoint of the third period. Carlsson scored on the power play 6:32 into the third period, and Mintyukov deposited a big rebound chance for the equalizer at the 9:59 mark.
Poehling scored a highlight-reel goal to put Anaheim ahead 16:50 into the third period. Connor then responded with the late equalizer at the 18:38 mark.