The Anaheim Ducks delivered yet another thrilling performance at Honda Center on February 27, 2026, edging out the Winnipeg Jets in a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory. Chris Kreider played the hero, backhanding a rebound past Connor Hellebuyck at 4:47 of the extra frame, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and extending the Ducks’ remarkable home winning streak to seven games.
The game-winner was set up by Beckett Sennecke, who showcased his poise and vision on a two-on-one break. Sennecke opted to keep the puck, fired a shot on goal, and watched as Kreider swooped in to bury the loose puck at the side of the net. "I just tried to get to the right spot," Kreider said after the game, according to team sources. "Beckett made a great play and I was lucky the rebound came right to me."
This contest was a roller coaster from start to finish, with both teams trading momentum swings and big moments. The Ducks found themselves trailing early but mounted an impressive comeback in the third period. Goals from Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov, and Ryan Poehling turned a deficit into a 4-3 lead, energizing the Anaheim bench and faithful. The crowd could sense something special brewing—after all, this was the ninth time this season the Ducks had erased a multi-goal deficit to win, a feat matched by only one other team since the 1987-88 NHL season through 58 games.
But the Jets weren’t about to go quietly. With just 1:22 left in regulation, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor—already a focal point of the Jets’ offense—rifled home the tying goal with Hellebuyck pulled for an extra attacker. The equalizer silenced the arena for a moment and set the stage for an overtime showdown. Connor’s late-game heroics continued his impressive run, as he’s been a constant threat for Winnipeg all season and especially effective in clutch situations.
For Anaheim, the night was full of standout performances. Beckett Sennecke finished with three assists, orchestrating plays and finding teammates in key moments. Jacob Trouba, a steady presence on the blue line, also chipped in with a second-period goal. Between the pipes, Lukas Dostal made 29 saves, steadying the Ducks when the Jets ramped up the pressure.
On the other side, Hellebuyck was a story in himself. Making his first NHL start since leading Team USA to Olympic gold, the veteran netminder turned aside 35 shots, many of them high-quality chances. Despite the loss, his efforts kept Winnipeg in the game until the very end. "It felt good to be back out there with the guys," Hellebuyck said postgame, reflecting on his Olympic journey and the challenge of readjusting to the NHL pace.
The Jets, whose blue line has been ravaged by injuries, leaned heavily on young defensemen like Logan Stanley and rookie Elias Salomonsson. Salomonsson, in particular, had a night to remember, scoring his first NHL goal and providing a glimpse of the promise he brings to Winnipeg’s future. Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi also found the back of the net for the Jets, who remain in the thick of the playoff hunt despite the tough loss.
Winnipeg’s road woes continued, with the team now holding an 11-15-3 record away from home. Their depleted defense, missing regulars like Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, and Haydn Fleury, forced coach Rick Bowness to juggle pairings and lean on less experienced players. The Ducks, meanwhile, have thrived at Honda Center, boasting an 18-8-1 record on home ice and playing with the kind of swagger rarely seen in recent years.
The victory added another chapter to a milestone week for Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville. Just two nights prior, the Ducks staged a thrilling 6-5 comeback win over the Edmonton Oilers, marking Quenneville’s 1,000th career NHL victory. That achievement made him only the second coach in league history to reach the four-digit mark, cementing his legacy among the game’s elite bench bosses. "It’s been a special week," Quenneville acknowledged after the Jets game. "The group is believing in itself and finding ways to win, no matter the situation."
Statistically, the Ducks have been on a tear, winning 11 of their last 13 games and climbing steadily in the Western Conference standings. Their offensive output has been impressive, averaging over 30 shots per game and getting contributions throughout the lineup. Cutter Gauthier, the team’s leading scorer, continued his hot streak with another high-energy performance, though he was held off the scoresheet in this contest. Leo Carlsson’s return from injury has also provided a spark, as he’s quickly reestablished himself as a difference-maker up front.
The Jets, while struggling on the road, have shown resilience. They opened their post-Olympic schedule with an overtime win in Vancouver and remain just nine points back of a wild card spot with 25 games left to play. The emergence of young talent like Salomonsson and the continued production from veterans like Connor and Scheifele offer hope for a late-season surge, especially with an eight-game homestand looming after their next outing.
Looking ahead, both teams face pivotal matchups. The Ducks will continue their nine-game homestand with a Sunday tilt against the Calgary Flames, aiming to keep their home streak alive and further solidify their playoff positioning. The Jets, meanwhile, head to San Jose for the final game of their three-game road swing before returning to Winnipeg for a crucial stretch that could define their season.
As the final horn sounded at Honda Center, fans were left buzzing about another heart-stopping finish and the Ducks’ uncanny ability to rally from behind. With momentum on their side, Anaheim looks poised to make noise down the stretch, while Winnipeg regroups and hopes to get healthy in time for a playoff push. The NHL season is heating up, and if this game was any indication, neither the Ducks nor the Jets are done writing their stories just yet.