The Winnipeg Jets head to sunny Anaheim, California, looking to pick up their second straight win on Friday night at Honda Center against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Jets played their first game following the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday in Vancouver, where they snuck out a 3-2 overtime win over the league-worst Canucks despite missing several key players. Kyle Connor, fresh off his return from Italy, tied the game 1-1 with his 26th of the season. Gabriel Vilardi evened things again at 2-2 with his 22nd late in the second period, and Cole Perfetti netted his first career overtime winner, his seventh goal of the year, to secure a much-needed two points in Van City. Eric Comrie made 21 saves as Winnipeg improved to 23-26-8.
Winnipeg currently sits seventh in the Central Division with 54 points and remains nine points back of the final wild-card spot, currently held by the Seattle Kraken (63 points).
Anaheim will play the fourth game of its nine-game homestand Friday, looking to earn its fourth consecutive win. The Ducks are coming off a high-scoring 6-5 regulation victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 21-year-old Leo Carlsson was named First Star after a three-point performance (1G, 2A), while Lukas Dostal made 22 saves. Anaheim holds an impressive 18-8-1 record at home entering Friday’s contest.
Perfetti will look to continue his strong play in a building that’s familiar to him. He made his NHL debut at Honda Center on Oct. 13, 2021, and also skated in his first regular-season game of the 2025-26 campaign there after dealing with a preseason ankle injury.
“(We’re) creating lots and when you are creating in that quantity, the puck is eventually going to go in the net,” Perfetti said following Wednesday’s win. “I thought tonight was a good first game back from the break.”
Friday marks the second meeting of the season between the two Western Conference clubs. Anaheim defeated Winnipeg 4-1 on Nov. 9, 2025, and the teams will conclude the season series March 10 in Winnipeg.
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Perfetti – Lowry – Iafallo
Nyquist – Toews – Namestnikov
Koepke – Barron – Pearson
Stanley – DeMelo
Samberg – Salomonsson
Heinola – Schenn
Hellebuyck
Comrie
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Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. CT on TSN3.