Winnipeg Jets Dominate Anaheim Ducks in 6-0 Victory
Tyler Toffoli scored his first two goals since joining the Winnipeg Jets, while Laurent Brossoit recorded his second shutout of the season in a resounding 6-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
The Jets’ defenseman Dylan DeMelo broke a 63-game goal drought and contributed an assist in front of a packed Canada Life Centre, boasting the fifth sellout crowd of 15,225 fans.
Additional goals came from Kyle Connor, Nate Schmidt, and Mason Appleton. Josh Morrissey tallied three assists, with Nikolaj Ehlers adding a pair of helpers for the Jets, who have alternated between wins and losses in their last five games.
The victory propelled Winnipeg into a three-way tie with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche for the top spot in the NHL Central Division.
Brossoit’s Stellar Performance
Brossoit’s shutout marked his fifth consecutive win as a starter (12-4-2). He has not allowed a goal in 141 minutes and 40 seconds, dating back to the team’s previous shutout against the Seattle Kraken and their win over the Buffalo Sabres on March 3.
On the opposing side, the struggling Ducks (23-41-3) suffered their fifth straight loss, with goaltender John Gibson stopping 32 shots. Throughout their losing streak, Anaheim has been outscored 27-5.
Winnipeg took an early lead, ending the first period up 1-0 and extending it to 2-0 after the second.
Game Highlights
Mark Scheifele tested Gibson early in the first period, and while Scheifele celebrated his 31st birthday with a return to the lineup following illness, his efforts were not rewarded.
After a listless power play by Anaheim, Kyle Connor netted his 28th goal of the season at 16:20, tipping in a point shot by DeMelo to give the Jets the lead.
In the second period, Schmidt’s shot deflected off two Ducks players before finding the back of the net, stretching Winnipeg’s advantage to 2-0.
In the third period, DeMelo added another goal, his second of the season, while Toffoli scored two goals in quick succession, increasing the lead to 5-0. Mason Appleton sealed the win with a power-play goal in the game’s final seconds.
Player Update
Jets forward Gabe Vilardi received discouraging news following further tests showing an enlarged spleen, prolonging his absence due to an upper-body injury. Vilardi, who has missed the team’s last eight games, will not join the Jets on their upcoming five-game road trip.
Upcoming Games
The Jets will embark on a challenging five-game road trip, starting against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, the Ducks will conclude their four-game road stretch against the St. Louis Blues.
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