WINNIPEG – If it was Andrew Ladd’s final home game in a Jets uniform, he just missed out on his storybook ending. Ladd scored once and then hit the goal post in the final minutes of a one goal game as the Dallas Stars pulled out a 5-3 win on Tuesday at MTS Centre.
Ladd’s contract expires at the end of the season and this was the Jets last home game before next Monday’s NHL trade deadline. Ladd received a standing ovation from Winnipeg fans after his second period goal.
“I guess it’s different for me cause nothing is set in stone.” Ladd said. “You don’t know what’s going on so you’re just out there trying to play a hockey game, but obviously appreciate the ovation after the goal. The fans have always been great ever since me and my family got here in Winnipeg. We’ve loved the people in this city and they treated us great.”
Ladd’s goal was his 17th of the season and tied him with Bryan Little for the team lead. And if it was his final game with the Jets at MTS Centre, the fans gave him a proper sendoff.
“We may come back here and they may have another chance to cheer for him for the remainder of the regular season.” head coach Paul Maurice said. “But if in fact that’s the way it turns out, it was good. It was good. It was well deserved by him. I’m glad the crowd appreciated it.”
Alex Burmistrov and Mark Scheifele also scored for the Jets. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 22 of 26 shots in the loss.
“We didn’t play well in the first period but think we get better in the second.” Pavelec said. “Really close game at 2-2 in the third period. They have the skills on the powerplay. You give them the chance they score the goals.”
Get daily National news
Jame Benn scored twice for Dallas while Jason Spezza, Valeri Nichushkin, and Colton Sceviour also beat Pavelec. John Klingberg recorded three assists.
The Jets were outshot 27-25 and their powerplay finished the night 0-for-4.
Seven minutes into the game Radek Faksa was sprung on a partial breakaway but Pavelec denied him to keep it a scoreless game.
Just moments later, the puck ricocheted right to Spezza and with Pavelec out of position he fired it into the gaping net. Spezza’s 19th goal of the season was assisted by Klingberg and Tyler Seguin.
Three minutes into the middle stanza Blake Wheeler came busting in all alone but he fired the shot wide.
Then at the 3:28 mark, the puck came in front to Burmistrov and he swiped the backhand behind Antti Niemi for his sixth goal of the season. Drew Stafford and Ben Chiarot drew the assists and the game was tied.
But Dallas regained the lead only five minutes later. The original shot deflected off Chiarot’s skate right to Nichushkin and he roofed it on Pavelec for his seventh goal of the season. Mattias Janmark picked up the only assist.
The Jets got back on even terms with 3:46 left in the period. Dustin Byfuglien made a pretty pass to setup Ladd who buried the one-timer for a shorthanded goal. Ladd received an extra long ovation from the crowd sensing it could be his final goal in a Jets uniform at MTS Centre. Joel Armia also had an assist. It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes with the Jets registering just 13 shots in the first two periods.
The Stars went back on top midway through the third period. Sceviour fired the loose puck towards the net. The puck appeared to hit the cross bar and play continued. But just moments later the off-ice officials sounded the horn and they reviewed the play. After taking a closer look, the puck hit the goal cam and bounced back out. It was a good goal as Sceviour got credit for his sixth goal of the season and the Stars had a 3-2 lead.
Less than two minutes later the Stars added an insurance marker. Patrick Sharp’s long shot bounced off the end boards right to Jamie Benn who popped it in past the sprawled out Pavelec for his 31st goal of the season.
With 2:06 remaining the Jets made it interesting. Niemi kicked out the rebound and Scheifele flipped in the backhand. Scheifele’s 14th cut the lead to one as Toby Enstrom and Blake Wheeler grabbed the assists.
The Jets came close to getting the equalizer as Ladd rung it off the goal post and then just a short time later Benn found the empty net to seal the victory.
Little, Adam Pardy and Mark Stuart were all scratched. The Jets continue their home and home with the Stars in Dallas on Thursday when they begin a short two game road trip.
WATCH: The Jets react following a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Comments