Judd Caulfield scored his first NHL goal and added an assist Friday night as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-1, handing Winnipeg its first regulation loss of the season. The rookie forward’s milestone came on a night the Ducks’ fourth line made its presence felt in a tight, low-event game.
Anaheim improved to 3-1-0 with the win, while Winnipeg fell to 3-1-1 after entering the night undefeated in regulation. Goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped 15 shots for the Ducks, and Kyle Conner scored his sixth goal of the season for the Jets in his 700th NHL game. Clay Stevenson made 12 saves in the loss.
Caulfield’s Milestone Night
Caulfield’s first NHL goal and assist marked his breakout moment in a Ducks win that snapped Winnipeg’s hold on an unbeaten regulation record. He played on Anaheim’s fourth line alongside Tim Washe and Mallot, a trio that combined for two of the team’s five goals, according to Yahoo Sports.
That line also drew praise for its energy and defensive responsibility, providing heavy forechecking throughout the game, Yahoo Sports reported. Caulfield himself made stickhandles and passes under opposing sticks over the course of the night, a sign of the puck skills he showed even in a bottom-six role.
What It Means For Anaheim’s Lineup
Head coach Joel Quenneville shuffled several lines and defensive pairs after Anaheim’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, and the reshuffled fourth line delivered immediate results against Winnipeg. All five of the Ducks’ goals came off the rush, and Anaheim limited the Jets to few clean looks from inside the circles while clearing away second-chance chances in a defensively tight contest.
The production from Caulfield’s line gave Anaheim secondary scoring beyond its top units, with Mikael Granlund, Sam Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko also among Friday’s contributors.
Season Context
The win closed out Anaheim’s first road trip of the 2026-27 season, a two-game swing through Canada. The Ducks opened the season with two wins before falling to Edmonton on Wednesday, making Friday’s result in Winnipeg a bounce-back effort. The Jets, meanwhile, were playing without star defenseman Josh Morrissey, who was listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury.
What’s Next
Anaheim will look to build on its 3-1-0 start as the season continues, with the fourth line’s performance against Winnipeg offering an early data point for how Quenneville’s lineup changes might shape the rotation going forward. No further details on Caulfield’s path to the roster or his statistics prior to Friday’s game have been reported.
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