When the Sucks have their best players performing to their standard, they are difficult to stop. When they have their power play clicking on top of that, they can grind out wins as well as any team in the NHL. Corey Perry scored twice in the third period to rally Anaheim to a 4-2 win against the Jets in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Honda Center. Perry's second goal was the game-winner; it came when he drove to the net and attempted a backhand that was initially stopped by Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec before Perry tapped it in at 13:21. The play was originally called no goal on the ice; however, after the next stop in play, a video review determined that the puck had crossed the goal line.
Perry's two goals and two assists tied a franchise single-game playoff point record; the second assist came on Ryan Getzlaf's power-play goal with 3:05 remaining. Anaheim, which entered the game in a 1-for-23 rut on the power play, scored two extra-man goals for the first time since its previous game against the Jets on Jan. 11. The Ducks also went 3-for-3 killing penalties.
Getzlaf's goal capped a three-goal third period for the Ducks, who led the NHL during the regular season by winning 12 games in which they trailed after 40 minutes. It was the first playoff game for the Winnipeg franchise since 2007, when it was known as the Atlanta Thrashers. The teams combined for 83 hits in what is expected to be one of the more physical series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Perry tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal 69 seconds into the third period when tapped in a loose puck that came to him at the right side. Ryan Kesler earned the power play late in the second period when he goaded Mark Scheifele into an after-the-whistle roughing penalty. Getzlaf gave his linemate Perry good grades. Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice and his players were pleased with their first two periods. Maurice didn't feel Anaheim's power play was momentum-changing, and said he felt his team handled the emotional swings well considering the high intensity of their final regular-season games. Tyler Myers said that they have their hands full with Getzlaf and Perry. The Ducks leaned on goalie Frederik Andersen early in the second period, and he made a big save on Chris Thorburn to keep the Ducks within a goal before Anaheim came on strong late. Winnipeg took a 2-1 lead on Drew Stafford's wrist shot to finish a 3-on-2 rush at 5:00 of the second period. It was one of several scoring chances early in the second for the Jets, who couldn't take further advantage of a typically poor middle period for Anaheim. Sami Vatanen scored 1:57 into the game, beating Pavelec on a point shot with Emerson Etem in front of the net. Getzlaf began the possession when he bumped Ladd off the puck and got it to Perry, who set up Vatanen. Winnipeg responded quickly when Adam Lowry one-timed Mark Stuart's pass behind Andersen at 2:46. The Jets transitioned quickly in the neutral zone and Andersen appeared out of position. Perry passed Teemu Selanne for second on Anaheim's all-time playoff assist list (35). Selanne, who began his NHL career in Winnipeg, was in attendance and drew loud cheers when he was shown on the video board. Perry is helped by playing on more talented teams than Selanne was given during his time in Anaheim. Also Perry has played is entire career with the Orange County-based franchise, while Selanne has played for the Original Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche, all much better teams, than the Anaheim Sucks.
Game 2 - Winnipeg @ Anaheim 1-2 - Sat, Apr 18 - Sucks Lead 2-0
Jakob Silfverberg had not put a shot on goal in more than 59 minutes. His first one found the back of the net. That's how it's gone all season for the Sucks, who continued their third-period luck Saturday when Silfverberg scored with 21 seconds left in the third for a 2-1 win against the Jets in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round at Honda Center. It was the second straight game that Anaheim came back to win after entering the third period down a goal. The Ducks won 4-2 in Game 1 after they trailed 2-1 in the third. Silfverberg grabbed the puck behind the goal line with Bryan Little defending, skated into the lower left circle and beat Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec to the short side with a wrist shot. Ryan Kesler cycled the puck back for Silfverberg to retrieve. It was a familiar scenario for Anaheim, which set an NHL single-season record with 18 wins when trailing at any point in the third period and was an NHL-best 12-23-0 when trailing after two periods during the regular season. Maroon tied it 1-1 when Cam Fowler's power-play shot deflected off him and into the net at 10:43 of the third. Jets captain Andrew Ladd was serving a high-sticking penalty for striking Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf in the neutral zone. The Dirty Dog Kyle Palmieir Slashed Michael Frolik a little over a minute earlier. The Jets will go home for the franchise's first playoff game since 2007, when it was known as the Atlanta Thrashers, and the first in Winnipeg since 1996, when the original Jets moved to Arizona after losing a first-round series to the Detroit Red Wings. They expect a raucous atmosphere at a sold-out MTS Centre, but they knew they had a golden chance for a split. Pavelec made 37 saves and kept Anaheim scoreless through 49 minutes. He stopped Maroon and Matt Beleskey on partial breakaways and made a left-pad save on Andrew Cogliano in the third period. Adam Pardy gave the Jets a 1-0 lead with his first career goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and first NHL goal since Jan. 26, 2011. Pardy, inserted in place of Ben Chiarot, skated around Kyle Palmieri down the left side and banked in a wraparound shot off teammate Lee Stempniak's skate at 15:43 of the second period. Kesler pushed Stempniak into the net with Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen seated on the goal line. 7
The goal was reviewed and upheld on Rule 69.1, which states that, "If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact."
Pardy fell to the ice in a heap with his teammates in celebration, but it didn't matter after 60 minutes. Jets players and coach Paul Maurice had no explanation for the third-period letdowns. Pardy credited Anaheim for its ability to prevail in the clutch, and even Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau again pointed to having the belief that they can come from behind. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Ducks are the first team in NHL history to take a 2-0 series lead when trailing at the start of the third period in each of the first two games.
Chris Wagner left the game with an upper-body injury in the first period. Mathieu Perreault returned after missing Game 1 with a lower-body injury.
Game 3 - Anaheim @ Winnipeg 5-4 OT - Mon, Apr 20 - Sucks Lead 3-0
Anaheim rallied three times before Rickard Rakell scored 5:12 into overtime in a 5-4 win in Game 3 at MTS Centre. Rakell tipped Francois Beauchemin's shot from the right circle past Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. The Jets were nearing their first-ever win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Anaheim's Ryan Kesler put Jakob Silfverberg's cross-slot feed past Pavelec with 2:14 left. The Ducks have outscored the Jets 6-0 in the third period in the series. Along with the three Winnipeg leads, Anaheim had to deal with the MTS Centre crowd. It was the first Stanley Cup Playoff game in Winnipeg since April 28, 1996 when the original Jets franchise finished their 17-season run in this city. The Jets will again lean on their fans in Game 4. Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen made 31 saves; Pavelec had 26. Lee Stempniak gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead 9:38 into the game. Cam Fowler tied it for the Ducks with 6.4 seconds remaining in the first period. A five-goal second period started when Corey Perry's third goal of the series at 3:08 gave the Ducks their first lead of the game. But Tyler Myers made it 2-2 with a power-play goal 3:32 later. Blake Wheeler regained Winnipeg's lead 2:57 after Myers' goal. Silfverberg's second goal of the series with 3:56 left in the second period erased another Winnipeg lead. But 2:14 after Silfverberg's goal, Bryan Little put the Jets back in front. However, comebacks are nothing new for the Ducks, who won each of the first two games with third-period rallies. Anaheim's 18 regular-season wins when trailing at any point in the third period set an NHL record. The Ducks' 12 wins when trailing after two periods also set a League record. Secondary scoring is helping to drive Anaheim's comebacks. Winnipeg limited the Ducks' top line of Perry, Patrick Maroon and Ryan Getzlaf to one goal, but the third line of Rakell, Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano took up the scoring burden. Silfverberg had a goal and two assists; Cogliano had three assists. Winnipeg pounced on Anaheim early. Stempniak, acquired from the New York Rangers before the NHL Trade Deadline, snuck to the front of the net. Rookie Adam Lowry worked the puck to Stempniak, who swept it over the goal line before Andersen could scramble into position. Anaheim scored its first goal late in the first during a 4-on-4 situation. The Jets could not move the puck out of the defensive zone and Cogliano sent it to Fowler, who snapped a low shot past Pavelec from the left circle. Hampus Lindholm located Perry alone in front early in the second. Lindholm's backhand pass to the edge of the crease reached Perry, who tapped a shot past Pavelec at 3:08. Perry has three goals and two assists in the series. The Ducks took a bench minor for too many men on the ice while on a power play at 5:03 of the second period. The Jets had not scored on their first eight power plays of the series until Myers sent a wrist shot on net past Michael Frolik's screen that eluded Andersen at 6:40. Wheeler, who led the Jets with 26 goals in the regular season, made it 3-2 when he picked up a long rebound to the left of the net and sent a shot over Andersen's right shoulder at 9:40 of the second. Silfverberg, who had the game-winning goal in Game 2, continued his strong series with a goal that made it 3-3. But Winnipeg got the lead back when Little intercepted Fowler's clearing pass up the middle of the slot before beating Andersen with a high slap shot at 18:18 of the second period. The goal was the first since Feb. 24 for Little, who missed 11 games because of an upper-body injury in March.
After a game that featured 105 hits, Kesler expects that the Jets will provide even more resistance in Game 4. Yes because they are a dirty team.
Penalties
| 1st Period | ||
|---|---|---|
| 15:50 WPG | Jacob Trouba Holding against Patrick Maroon | |
| 18:43 WPG | Adam Lowry Roughing against Ryan Kesler | |
| 18:43 ANA | Ryan Kesler Roughing against Adam Lowry | |
| 2nd Period | ||
| 00:31 ANA | Hampus Lindholm Hi-sticking against Mark Scheifele | |
| 03:08 WPG | Dustin Byfuglien Roughing against Corey Perry | |
| 05:03 ANA | Kyle Palmieri Too many men/ice - bench | |
| 11:16 WPG | Dustin Byfuglien Tripping against Ryan Kesler | |
| 3rd Period | ||
| 18:11 ANA | Sami Vatanen Delaying Game-Puck over glass | |
Game 4 - Anaheim @ Winnipeg 5-2 - Wed, Apr 22 - Sucks Win 4-0
The Sucks made their first statement of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and some needed time to rest will be their reward. The Ducks completed a sweep of the Jets with a 5-2 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round series at MTS Centre. Two third-period goals from Ryan Kesler fended off a late push from the Jets. Anaheim will play the winner of the best-of-7 series between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks; Calgary leads the series 3-1. The Ducks will rest at home and prepare for the second-round series. Eight Winnipeg players made their playoff debuts, and the Jets could not counter Anaheim's experience. Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen made 25 saves. Ondrej Pavelec made 30 saves for the Jets. Anaheim had a 2-1 lead after the second period. Kesler scored 6:41 into the third period before Jets defenseman Mark Stuart's first NHL playoff goal narrowed Anaheim's lead to 3-2 with 9:33 left in the game. But Kesler's third goal of the series, a one-timer on a pass from Jakob Silfverberg with 4:49 remaining put the Ducks ahead by two goals. Defenseman Sami Vatanen scored an empty-net goal with 27 seconds left. The Ducks came from behind in all four games, including in the third period in each of the first three games. Anaheim outscored Winnipeg 9-1 in the third period in the series. Winnipeg has never won a playoff game in its history. They were swept by the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2007, when the franchise was known as the Atlanta Thrashers. Bryan Little's power-play goal with 3:34 left in the first period gave the Jets a 1-0 lead. Emerson Etem tied the game 1:26 later. Andrew Cogliano gave Anaheim a 2-1 lead at 12:55 of the second period. Anaheim swept Winnipeg in part because of a well-balanced offensive attack that allowed Boudreau to use four lines. Corey Perry had two assists for the Ducks and seven points (three goals, four assists) in the series. Silfverberg finished with two goals and three assists. Getzlaf had a goal and three assists. Kesler played two seasons in Winnipeg with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League as a Vancouver prospect. Kesler tormented the Jets throughout the series, drawing penalties and solidifying the Ducks' second line. He teamed with Silfverberg to provide a dangerous second-line and center depth that the Jets could not match. Kesler's presence relieves some of the pressure on Getzlaf and Perry to carry Anaheim's offensive burden. The Ducks and Jets combined for 80 hits in Game 4. The Ducks' repeated comebacks frustrated the Jets. Maurice acknowledged that the Jets did not have a healthy lineup. He said Ladd sustained an injury 2 1/2 months ago that would have kept him out of the lineup for two months had he not played through it.
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