Ducks Flip the Script in Winnipeg Behind Nesterenko’s Finish
Jets fired away, but Anaheim found the better looks while Dostal kept it tidy in a 5-1 road win.
Winnipeg had more pucks fired toward the net, but the better chances belonged to the Anaheim Ducks. The Jets led in shot attempts (52-38), yet Anaheim’s looks were worth more, finishing with more expected goals — 3.38 to 2.09 — and they cashed that edge into a 5-1 result.
The turning point was quality, not volume. Nikita Nesterenko jumped on his moment, with a single chance worth 0.77 xG — the kind of look that swings a night. Depth chipped in, too: Judd Caulfield and Tim Washe each produced and helped tilt dangerous areas, while Mikael Granlund added a goal and an assist. On the back end, Lukas Dostal did exactly what Anaheim needed, stopping 15 of 16 to make the math hold.
Winnipeg wasn’t empty-handed; Cole Perfetti pinged iron on a near-goal, and the Jets drew four power plays but couldn’t convert. In a game where more didn’t mean better, the Ducks punished mistakes and finished the right chances.
