Winnipeg @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 2, 2019 ) Anaheim 3, Winnipeg 9

Final-period struggles have hindered the Winnipeg Jets most of the season, but they have found the successful late-game recipe at just the right time entering Wednesday’s road contest against the Anaheim Ducks. Winnipeg earned its third-consecutive one-goal victory Monday, opening a three-game road swing with a 3-2 triumph at Los Angeles as defenseman Tyler Myers netted the game-winning tally in the second period and the Jets made it stick to remain atop the Central Division.

“That’s the key piece for us in each of our last three games,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told the media after Winnipeg limited the Kings to just two shots in the final 20 minutes and a total of nine shots across the final two periods. “Our third period has been our strongest period.” The Jets have not faced the Ducks since scoring six goals in the first period of a 9-3 home triumph on Feb. 2, but Anaheim is 9-9-0 since coach Randy Carlyle was dismissed and Bob Murray took over behind the bench. The Ducks have won three of their past four games, including a 3-2 home victory Sunday over Florida on forward Jakob Silfverberg’s go-ahead goal with 4:43 to play. “We managed to find a way to win and have been playing pretty good lately,” Silfverberg told reporters after Anaheim’s sixth victory in nine games. “We are feeling pretty good about ourselves.”

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE JETS (43-25-4): Forward Kyle Connor recorded a goal and earned his career-high 27th assist against Los Angeles, giving him 11 points (six goals) in his past 13 games. With back-to-back games upcoming against the Ducks and at Las Vegas (Thursday), backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit started Monday for Connor Hellebuyck and made 15 saves in the victory. Forward Blake Wheeler, who registered his 68th assist last time out, entered Tuesday third in the NHL and one off the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise record (Marc Savard, 69 in 2005-06).

ABOUT THE DUCKS (30-35-9): Silfverberg leads Anaheim with 22 goals and has netted six along with 10 points during his past nine games, registering a point in eight of those contests. Center Ryan Getzlaf followed a three-point effort in Thursday’s victory at Colorado with two assists Sunday, and has seven points in his past five games. Goaltender John Gibson stopped 37-of-39 shots against the Panthers for his fourth consecutive victory and owns a .942 save percentage in that span, posting his 27th start of the season in which he has allowed two goals or fewer.

OVERTIME

1. Anaheim F Rickard Rakell has seven points (two goals) in his past nine games, including an assist against Florida.

2. Winnipeg held the Kings without a shot for a 19:28 stretch Monday.

3. The Jets have won both matchups with Anaheim this season, including a 4-3 overtime victory at home on Jan. 13 on Bryan Little’s game winner.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Ducks 2