In Anaheim, the Ducks played it tough for 40 minutes, but surrendered two goals in the third period and lost to the visiting Winnipeg Jets, 3-1, on Friday.
Laurent Brossoit made 37 saves in the win.
Winnipeg improved to 25-9-4.
With the game tied, 1-1 entering the third period, the Jets pushed home to strikes to take control of the game,.
Nate Schmidt scored two minutes into the period for a 2-1 lead to Winnipeg.
“I was yelling at Samberg for half a zone,” Schmidt said. “You get a little scared when, all of a sudden, you see your (defense) partner leading the rush and you’re the next one up, but he makes a great play at the blue line that allows that play to happen.”
Cole Perfetti added breathing room with a power play marker at 13:03.
“In the playoffs, you’re going to have close games and a power play or (penalty kill) might change a game completely,” Ehlers said. “We obviously haven’t been great in both departments, but we’re working our hardest to clean that up.”
The Ducks dropped to 13-24-1 off their fourth straight loss.
“I thought we played a real solid game,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “It’s one of the better games we’ve played in the last four weeks.”
Mason McTavish was the lone striker for ANaheim, his goal at 15:49 of the opening stanza staked the Ducks to a 1-0 advantage.
“We were a little bit jittery the first 10 minutes, and then we kind of skated through that and I thought we played well,” Cronin said. “We had scoring chances, and we could have had a ton more if we shot the puck.”
The Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers tied the game, 1-1, at 7:57 of the middle frame.
“The goaltending that we’ve had this season is the best in the League, best in the world, outstanding every single night,” Ehlers said. “We’re confident in both our goalies out there, and we’re playing mostly as a team and that’s what gives us success.”
John Gibson made 24 saves in the loss.
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