Ducks score 3 goals in 1:44, end Jets 6-game point streak

WINNIPEG — The Anaheim Ducks scored three goals in a 1:44 span in the second period en route to a 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday.

“We've got a good mix, we've got good balance,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said. “We know we can score goals, and tonight is a good thing to bounce back to, about knowing that we can check too.

“We want to do one thing -- we want to make the playoffs. That's our priority, that's our goal. You don't want to look past our next opponent (Thursday at the Toronto Maple Leafs).”

Alex Killorn, Ryan Poehling and Jackson LaCombe each had a goal and an assist, while Lukas Dostal made 12 saves for the Ducks (36-25-3), who’ve won eight of 10 games (8-2-0).

“This has been one of our most complete games when you look at three periods,” Killorn said. “A lot of games, we’ve been down and had to come back. We were down here tonight, but for a majority of the game, we played the right way. It was a great game for our team. I think it’s been our best full game. We didn’t make any stupid turnovers. They’re going to get chances, it’s going to happen, but I thought we limited them as much as we could.”

Morgan Barron scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves for the Jets (26-27-10), who had points in their previous six games (4-0-2).

“We laid a big fat egg,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “We didn’t execute. We didn’t compete on pucks — chased the whole game. They had the puck most of the night. When we did have it, we turned it over. … Everybody was off. … Everybody was missing. On a night where we knew we had to be at our very, very best against a very good team, we didn’t. We weren’t good enough.”

After a scoreless first period, Barron put the Jets on the board 1-0 at 5:04 of the second period, deflecting an Elias Salomonsson one-timer from the point past Dostal.

“They're laying out and blocking shots,” Barron said. “It's obviously a good team. They transition really well, and they defended well, but there's definitely a lot we can do better. (We) just didn't get over pucks and find ways to put pucks behind them. We made their life easy on them probably tonight, and they made us pay.”

Anaheim's three goals are the club's fastest three scored in succession in more than six years, since the Ducks last did it in a 1:37 span in a 4-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 27, 2019.

“I just think those were the couple minutes where they went in,” Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry said. “That was kind of a start to finish kind of thing. I think it was more the execution — it’s not an effort thing. I'd never question our effort. It was just some details, some reads, some things we talked about before the game. They're going to be hyperaggressive, they're going to come down the wall. … They're a team that kind of thrives on turnovers, and they do a real good job creating and bringing that fourth man. I just think the way we played, the way we executed, really just fed into their game.”

The first two of three Anaheim goals came 14 seconds apart, starting with Tim Washe's goal at 6:24 that tied it 1-1. Washe beat Winnipeg defenseman Haydn Fleury for the rebound of a Jansen Harkins shot from the right dot, and then Poehling pushed it to 2-1, getting the tip on Killorn’s point shot at 6:38.

“We always talk about stacking,” Poehling said. “I thought [Ducks forward Jeffrey Viel] did a great job of just being net-front, kind of blocking the guy, and then I got in the top there, and [Killorn] just threw one on net. We always try to tip-in, and that one ended up going in. It happens a lot throughout the game, and that one just ended up going in.”

Just 1:30 after Poehling's goal, Killorn made it 3-1 at 8:08. Poehling kept the puck in the Ducks' offensive zone at the blue line, then passed it ahead to Killorn to create a 2-on-1, and Killorn scored with a wrist shot from above the right dot.

“I thought we played great all night in terms of keeping the puck behind them, and then just forechecking above them and creating plays,” Poehling said. “So that was one where we were on top of them and they were a little tired, and I just got back, got a good stick on it, and [Killorn] made a good play from there.”

LaCombe wristed it into an empty net at 19:34 of the third period for the 4-1 final.

Anaheim has won 15 of its past 19 games (15-4-0), dating back to Jan. 13, when it was coming off a nine game skid (0-8-1) that began with a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 22.

“A month ago, it was a different situation. Then we go on a run, and now we’re in first in the Pacific,” Killorn said. “You try not to think about it too much, but it’s just one of those things that it’s so tight, every game is so important. Points, even at the end of games when it’s tied, points are so important that you need to get them when you can.”

NOTES: Winnipeg’s season-long, six-game point streak (4-0-2) ended. … Anaheim’s 36th win of the season surpasses their win total from last season (35-37-10, 80 points), with 18 games remaining. In the process, they gained a three-point edge (75) for first place in the Pacific Division, ahead of Vegas (72). … The Ducks earned their 20th comeback win of the season, tied with the Montreal Canadiens for the most in the League. Anaheim has only recorded more come-from-behind victories in a season four times: 2013-14 (26), 2014-15 (24), 2007-08 (22) and 2005-06 (21). … Washe, Poehling and Killorn’s three goals within a span of 1:44 seconds is the eighth-fastest in franchise history. … LaCombe’s assist on Poehling’s goal was his 37th of the season, which tied Chris Pronger for the 10th most in a season by a Ducks defenseman.