The Western Conference has taken the Stanley Cup Playoffs ‘Game of the Night’ for the second consecutive night, thanks to Corey Perry and the Anaheim Ducks.
Anaheim trailed the majority of the game, before Perry lit the lamp twice against Ondrej Pavelec, and the Winnipeg Jets.
The Ducks opened the scoring early, just 1:57 into the opening period, as Sami Vatanen slipped one past Pavelec for the early lead. That lead, however was short lived. One minute later, Jets winger, Adam Lowry one-timed his shot past Frederik Andresen.
Drew Stafford would put the only tally up on the board in the second period, giving the Jets the upset bid into the final period.
When the third period started it was all Corey Perry. Perry tied the game 1:09 into the final frame. With both teams trying to regain the lead, Perry stole the show again, tapping in his shot to beat Pavelec.
The Ducks would add another insurance goal, on the powerplay from Ryan Getzlaf.
All in all Perry would finish with 4 points (2G, 2A), and give the Ducks the 1-0 series lead.
“We’ve done this all year,” Perry said of the Ducks third period comeback. “We keep playing the same way all season. It doesn’t change just because of the playoffs. You have to work harder, but it doesn’t change.”
Picks for tonight: Canadiens, Islanders, Blackhawks, and Canucks.