01-15-2020, 07:56 AM
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Although Paul Maurice declines the credit, the Winnipeg Jets still havent lost since he stepped behind their bench. Theyre even good enough to beat a team that had been practically perfect on home ice all season long. Ondrej Pavelec made 40 saves, Evander Kane had a short-handed goal and an assist in his return from injury, and the Jets ended the Anaheim Ducks 10-game home winning streak with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night. Blake Wheeler and captain Andrew Ladd also scored for the last-place Jets, who handed the overall NHL leaders their first regulation loss at home this season after a 20-0-2 start at Honda Center. Bryan Little had two assists as Winnipeg hung on for its fourth consecutive win since Maurice replaced Claude Noel, culminating in this gritty win in the leagues most daunting road arena. "Its a tough building to play in, and it feels good to be the first team to beat them (here) this season," Pavelec said. "Its only two points, but it feels really good, especially in this building. ... The whole team is playing with confidence. The new coach let us know were good players, and we can beat anybody." With a fourth win for Maurice, Winnipeg even relinquished sole possession of last place in the Central Division, pulling even with Nashville at the bottom of the table. Yet when asked what hes done to this underachieving group, the veteran coach is frank: "Nothing." "Before I got here, I thought this was a good hockey team," Maurice added. "Now were feeling good, and that changes everything." Cam Fowler and Nick Bonino scored for the NHL-leading Ducks, who hadnt lost at home since Dec. 3. Anaheim has won 19 of 22 overall, but has lost two of its last three games despite putting 42 shots on net and having 36 more potential shots blocked by the Jets. Anaheim was just the fourth NHL team in 40 years to earn a point in its first 22 home games to start a season. The Ducks were the only NHL team that hadnt lost in regulation at home this season, but they began the week leading up to Saturdays game at Dodger Stadium by overlooking the Jets for two mediocre periods. "Theres a lot of distractions going on this week with this outdoor game," Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "Everybody wants to talk about it, and everyones been talking about it for two weeks, so its hard to focus in on what you need to do and getting the two points on hand. But thats no excuse." Anaheim faces the Los Angeles Kings at home on Thursday and again in Chavez Ravine on the weekend. Jonas Hiller yielded three goals on 11 shots and was pulled late in the second period of his second straight loss after a 14-game winning streak. The Swiss Olympic goalie candidly acknowledged a lack of focus. "I just didnt feel like I was really in the game and I wasnt able to cut out all the distractions, like the outdoor game," Hiller said. "Those things happen, but its too bad in this situation. We wanted to keep that streak going. Some days you feel better and other days you dont. You cant be perfect every night. The problem with a goalie is, you see right away if you dont feel good, and you cant really hide." Frederik Andersen stopped 10 shots in relief during the Ducks return from a road trip that began with a loss in Chicago, snapping their eight-game winning streak. Fowler scored a goal in his second straight game just 3:59 in, ripping a slap shot off Zach Bogosians stick on a power play. But Wheeler evened it moments later, putting a stoppable shot past Hillers glove for his 18th goal, and Ladd scored late in the period by pouncing on a loose puck. Anaheim struggled on two power plays in the second period, and Hiller got yanked when he fanned on a quick shot by Kane, who had been out since Jan. 7 after hurting his hand in a fight. After Andersen relieved Hiller, the Ducks pressed in the third period and finally scored when Bonino followed Jakob Silfverbergs rebound in the slot and scored his 16th goal. "You hate to lose," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "You want this thing to go on forever." NOTES: The erstwhile Atlanta Thrashers hadnt visited Honda Center since Oct. 15, 2010. A Winnipeg Jets team hadnt visited Anaheim since 1996. ... Before the game, Anaheim sent D Sami Vatanen down to the AHL. ... With Kanes return, Winnipeg scratched F James Wright, who had missed just one game all season. Colin Kaepernick Super Bowl Jersey . -- Jake Peavy arrived at Bostons spring training complex on Monday with a large white bandage covering his left index finger, the result of a weekend accident. Jeff Wilson Super Bowl Jersey . 2015 Oscar nomination pending. Here is an open letter from Steven Stamkos to his fans: When I shot this final Moment Zero film last August, it was a fun few days on set with Coke Zero and Jordan Eberle in my hometown of Markham. https://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-S...as-Jersey/. Ferrer will play Mikhail Youzhny on Sunday after he defeated Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 6-4 in an all-Russian semifinal. "Youzhny is a good player," Ferrer said. Jason Verrett Super Bowl Jersey . Left-handed reliever Boone Logan agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Mike McGlinchey Super Bowl Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. DETROIT -- James Shields was acquired two offseasons ago to pitch in games like this for Kansas City. With the Royals trying to avoid a sweep in their biggest series in years, the 32-year-old right-hander delivered. "You dont earn a nickname like Big Game James for nothing," manager Ned Yost said. "Games dont come much bigger than this." Shields allowed two hits over seven innings in another terrific performance, and Kansas City edged Detroit 3-0 on Wednesday night to take a one-game lead over the Tigers atop the AL Central. Detroit had won the first two games of the series to pull into a virtual tie for first in the division. The teams have a three-game series in Kansas City that starts Sept. 19. "Its definitely a game that we needed, for sure, but I think every game from here on out is pretty crucial," Shields said. "We took a couple tough losses there, the last couple days, but were having fun right now and enjoying the moment." Shields (14-7) gave up a single to Ian Kinsler leading off the first. Then he picked off Kinsler -- and retired every other batter he faced until another Detroit single in the seventh. The Tigers put two on that inning, but Shields worked out of the jam. Kelvin Herrera pitched the eighth and Wade Davis finished for his third save. Rick Porcello (15-11) pitched well for the Tigers, but Kansas City pushed across two runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Salvador Perez and Lorenzo Cain. Alcides Escobar added a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Shields was acquired in December 2012 in a trade that sent top prospect Wil Myers to Tampa Bay. Myers won Rookie of the Year honours last season, but now Shields has helped put the Royals in contention for their first post-season appearance since 1985. "The only thing Ive been telling guys is just stay relaxed and have fun," said Shields, who pitched in the post-season for Tampa Bay in 2008, 2010 and 2011. "This is why we play the game." He came within two outs of a shutout in New York on Friday in a 1-0 win over the Yankees, and the Tigers didnt fare any better against him. SShields struck out eight and walked one on Wednesday, throwing 98 pitches.dddddddddddd Torii Hunters comebacker hit Shields in the back of his right leg in the first, but the Kansas City starter was able to continue. The game was delayed 42 minutes by rain at the start, and in the fourth it was raining hard enough to send fans toward the concourse, but there were no more delays. RALLY HALTED In the seventh, Hunter managed a single and Miguel Cabrera walked, but Shields retired Victor Martinez on a deep fly and struck out J.D. Martinez. "Thats pretty typical of him. He goes out and he pitches like that for 200 innings every year. Thats what he does," Kinsler said. "Rick threw the ball really well, but we didnt create any offence, and thats the game." TOUGH LOSS Porcello struck out four of the first five Kansas City batters. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out seven without a walk. He allowed consecutive singles to Josh Willingham, Eric Hosmer and Perez with one out in the fourth, and Cains two-out single made it 2-0. TRAINERS ROOM Royals: All-Star closer Greg Holland sat out again, despite the tight score in the late innings. He hasnt pitched since Sept. 3 because of a triceps issue. "Greg felt fine today," Yost said. "My whole mindset was, I was going to go up to the point where Greg said, OK, I dont feel anything -- and then give him another day." Tigers: RHP Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) was activated from the disabled list before the game. He allowed a run in the ninth. ... Left-handed reliever Phil Coke left in the eighth with a muscle spasm in his lower back after being unable to field Hosmers bunt. UP NEXT Royals: RHP Liam Hendriks (1-1) starts against Bostons Clay Buchholz (7-8) on Thursday night. Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy is missing that turn in the rotation because of a sore shoulder. Tigers: Detroit has an off day Thursday, followed by a home series against Cleveland. Tigers LHP David Price (13-11) starts against Cleveland RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-4) on Friday night. ' ' '