After being out of the playoff race for most of the season, the Winnipeg Jets now have a chance of sneaking in.
The Winnipeg Jets have undoubtedly taken a major step back this season.
After winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team last season, they have a 32-30-12 record and sit on the wrong side of the playoff line at the beginning of April.
When noting the Jets had an excellent 56-22-4 record just last season, their drop-off has been a surprise. That said, they also still have the potential to sneak into the playoffs, given how weak the Western Conference is this season.
If the Jets manage to get into the playoffs, it would make for an excellent story. For much of this season, the Jets' playoff hopes were low, but they have been heating up at the right time. They have won four out of their last five games and have given themselves some life in the process.
The Jets, which have also gone 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, are now only two points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators are also both one point ahead of them, with San Jose having a game in hand and winning three straight. Still, the Jets' chances of getting into the playoffs cannot be ruled out.
Their odds of making the playoffs are at 7.50 (+650) on BetMGM, implying a 13.33 percent probability.
But since the Olympic break, the Jets have the seventh-best points percentage in the NHL, better than the Predators (19th), Sharks (21st) and Kings (23rd). They continue to chip away at the teams directly in front of them, and they've done well to beat the league-leading Colorado Avalanche two out of three times in March.
If the Jets make the playoffs, they would not be the easiest of first-round opponents, either.
While Connor Hellebuyck has struggled at times during the playoffs and this season, he's heating up, with a .915 save percentage in his last four starts. He is also one of the NHL's most dominant goalies when at his best, and his experience of backstopping Team USA to Olympic gold will only help him.
The Jets also have stars like Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, who are among the top 12 scorers in the NHL. And Josh Morrissey continues to excel on the back end, so the Jets have what it takes to shock a team in the first round.
Out of all the Western Conference teams currently not holding a playoff spot, the Jets are the most interesting and potentially the most dangerous. With eight games left and matchups against the Sharks, Utah Mammoth, Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, it won't be easy, but these former Presidents' Trophy winners know what it takes to string wins together.
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