There is certain perverse pleasure in ruining someone else’s day when your own is not going well. Suck is the role of the spoiler in sports.
On Tuesday night, the Winnipeg Jets did just that by rallying for a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in extra time.
Blake Wheeler scored with a little more than three minutes gone in overtime for the win. 
“When they beat us in the playoffs, it added a little bit to the rivalry,” Winnipeg goalie Michael Hutchinson said. “That makes us a little more hungry. We got down against them but we kept battling and we really took it to them tonight.”
The Ducks swept the Jets last season in the first round of the playoffs.
Marko Dano tied the game up with 3:46 left in regulation when he beat John Gibson with a deflection.
The loser’s point will be gladly taken by the Ducks but they had two in their hands.
“Unnecessary drama, but drama nonetheless,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Until the third period, I thought we were just playing to play with them. We weren’t pushing like we did against [the Dallas Stars in a 3-1 win on Sunday]. I thought we played better in the third period and in the overtime, but when the best faceoff player in the league loses a draw, and we don’t cover the guy in front of the net, bad things happen.”
The Ducks rode Corey Perry‘s power play goal from the first period until the Dano goal.
“We talk about not being cute with the puck. We’re a meat-and-potatoes team. We have to play north-south hockey and get it deep all the time. When we don’t do that, we’re usually in trouble,” Boudreau said. “Tonight, when you get over the blue line and you’re going east-west instead of north-south, and dropping passes, you’re not going to get opportunities.”
For the Jets, it is about building something for next season. Last season they were ahead of schedule but have taken a few steps back this campaign. Now they need to demonstrate some commitment to the game plan of coach Paul Maurice.
“We’ve done a pretty good job in three or four games in the last three or four weeks of being behind going into the third and generating enough,” Maurice said. “They’ve got a good defensive mindset on their team so it’s not going to be an easy run, but we’re good enough.”
With the loss, the Ducks are now tied with the Los Angeles Kings who won in overtime over the Calgary Flames Tuesday.
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