Kings’ Streak Finally Runs Out as Jets Win, 6-3 : After 5 Straight Losses to L.A., Winnipeg Bounces Back in Fight-Marred Game

One of the newspapers here suggested that the Winnipeg Jets were jinxed against the Kings after the Jets wasted a 6-4 lead and lost their fifth straight game against the Kings, 9-6, Saturday night.

However, the Jets came back to break the so-called jinx, handing the Kings a 6-3 loss in Sunday night’s rematch in front of 12,540 fans at the Winnipeg Arena.

“I think we probably spent too much time reading all the nice things that were said about us and the jinx because we weren’t ready to play tonight,” Kings Coach Pat Quinn said. “That’s the problem with this hockey team, they’re too self-satisfied.”

King center Bernie Nicholls, who scored three goals in Saturday night’s game, seemed more intent on fighting than scoring in the rematch.

Nicholls didn’t score but was involved in two fights with Winnipeg defenseman Tim Watters. He received a 10-minute misconduct and a roughing penalty in the second period after his first run-in with Watters.

Nicholls took a punch at Watters with 12:02 left in the third period to touch off another fight. King left wing Dave (Tiger) Williams finished off Watters, and defenseman Dean Kennedy also got involved in the melee. Kennedy got a 10-minute misconduct.

“They tried to intimidate Bernie,” Quinn said. “They were high-sticking him most of the night. And finally he lost his cool. I guess he decided that if they weren’t going to call it he’d take matters into his own hands.”

Said Nicholls: “The referees were (bleep). Every time I fought they (the Jets) got nothing. The refs were awful.”

Asked if the Jets were trying to intimidate him, Nicholls said: “I’m sure they were, but you can only take so much. They kept cross-checking me and high-sticking me all night and I had to retaliate.”

However, Winnipeg Coach Barry Long said his team doesn’t play dirty.

“We’ve got that label and I’m telling you I wish my team would play that way. The first people the referees and linesmen take off (during fights) are the Winnipeg Jets.”

Despite the loss, which snapped a two-game winning streak, the Kings are still in third place in the Smythe Division at the All-Star break. The Kings are one point ahead of the Jets and Vancouver Canucks, who are tied for fourth place with 39 points.

“What kind of satisfaction can you take from being in third place when you drop two points,” Quinn said.

The Jets led 6-1 in the third period before the Kings scored two goals to narrow the gap.

Phil Sykes had two goals for the Kings and Dave Taylor had the other goal.

“I guess we probably took them too lightly,” Sykes said.

The Jets scored on three of five power plays against the Kings with center Dale Hawerchuk, right wing Paul MacLean and defenseman Randy Carlyle getting the goals.

Doug Smail added an unassisted short-handed goal and Jim Nill and Watters also scored for Winnipeg.

Jet goalie Brian Hayward played well, making 42 saves.

“This was a big win for us,” Hayward said. “We needed to prove that we could beat them.”

King defenseman Jay Wells was beaten on two of the Jets’ first three goals, and he also set up another Winnipeg goal when he drew a five-minute penalty for slashing after he broke his stick over Smail’s arm. Smail went off the ice holding his arm, but he wasn’t injured and later returned. However, the Jets scored on the ensuing power play.

“I took a good whack at him (Smail),” Wells said. “But I don’t think it should have been a five-minute major. I didn’t try injure him.”

Winnipeg took command from the start, scoring the first three goals.

Nill scored off a two-on-one at 6:25 of the first period. Defenseman Mario Marois faked a shot to make Wells commit himself, and then he made fancy behind-the-back pass in the slot to Nill, who scored his third goal of the season.

Hawerchuk scored his 34th goal on a rebound of a shot by defenseman Dave Ellett on a power play with 3:45 left in the first period.

Smail got an unassisted shorthanded goal after he went around Wells at the blue line 3:41 of the second period.

However, the Kings cut the lead to 3-1 when Sykes scored off a pass from rookie center Brian Wilks at 8:54 of the second period.

But Winnipeg scored three straight goals to put make it 6-1.

King Notes The Kings will take three days off for the National Hockey League All-Star break before resuming their schedule Thursday night in Calgary, Canada. Dave Taylor is the team’s lone representative in Tuesday night’s All-Star game in Hartford, Conn. However, center Marcel Dionne will also go to Hartford to attend the NHL Players Assn. meetings.