The Winnipeg Jets enter the back half of their eight-game homestand tonight looking to bounce back against the New York Rangers at Canada Life Centre following a very diminishing 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

Winnipeg entered Tuesday’s contest riding a three-game win streak and a six-game point streak, but that would come to an end after a full-on flat 60-minute effort, a game where they were dominated top to bottom.

After being outshot 8-2 in the opening frame, Winnipeg thought they had steered themselves in the right direction by opening the scoring on Morgan Barron’s 10th of the year, but the ship changed directions very quickly. Tim Washe tied the game just 1:20 after Barron’s tally, then Ryan Poehling put Anaheim in front just 14 seconds later. Not long after, Alex Killorn netted the Ducks’ third goal at 8:08 to put his club up by a pair, stunning the Jets and the crowd at Canada Life Centre. Anaheim simply dominated the middle frame, outshooting the Jets by a wide margin (20-5).

Anaheim iced the game late with an empty-net goal to secure its 4-1 win, outshooting Winnipeg in a lopsided 35-13 final shot count, tying the Jets’ lowest-shot game of the season (Nov. 28 in Carolina). Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves as Winnipeg dipped below .500 (26-27-10).

A win on Tuesday night would’ve pulled the Jets within three points of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, as the Seattle Kraken fell 4-2 to the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks lost 6-3 to the Buffalo Sabres. They’ll have another opportunity tonight to do so with 19 games remaining on the season.

The Rangers, another team having a difficult season, are coming off a 4-0 shutout win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Alexis Lafreniere recorded a hat trick for his 18th of the season while Jonathan Quick earned a 21-save shutout. New York currently sits dead last in the Eastern Conference (26-33-8), and a win would tie them with Winnipeg in points (62). The Rangers have won their last two games.

“It’s going to be a hard game. They’ve been pretty decent on the road,” said Cole Perfetti. “Just got to stick to our game, play our game like we have been the last few, and we’ll be alright.”