The Winnipeg Jets proved Friday's 6-2 win over Detroit was no fluke, by following it up with a 6-1 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils. In doing so, Winnipeg maintained its two-point cushion over the Calgary Flames for the final wild card spot in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, while 11 total Jets players registered points in the team's second-straight lopsided home victory in a span of 48 hours from Canada Life Centre.
Sure, both wins came against teams that had suited up the night before, but by the NHL's standards, a win is most certainly a win, no matter the circumstances.
Winnipeg, which moved to 43-31-3 on the season, now has more wins than all but 11 teams across the entire league. With the 'regulation and overtime wins' category (ROW) being the first playoff tiebreaker, the Jets are in good company should they finish the regular season in a tie with one of the Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames or Nashville Predators.
Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets actually came within 13.9 seconds of a fourth shutout on the season, but a Nico Hischier power play marker on a late-game Dylan DeMelo slashing penalty cost the team its blank sheet.
"We’re building our playoff game and if it looks like that I think we’re going to be pretty happy in here," Hellebuyck said post-game. "We’re sticking to our game and we’re building it. This is when you want to peak and I think that’s what we’re doing.”
Sunday's game was also the first time since mid-February that the Jets had recorded the opening goal in back-to-back contests.
Winnipeg scored twice in each period, with Ehlers getting things going early on a perfect pass from new linemate Blake Wheeler just five minutes into the game. Wheeler picked up his second assist of the period on Nino Niederreiter's second goal in as many games, as he banked one past Vitek Vanecek with four minutes remaining in the frame.
"Nikky creates so much space," Wheeler said. "For me, I’m maybe a little bit past the part of creating a ton of space for myself, but to play with a guy that can put me in situations where I have time and space, I can still make some plays happen, given those opportunities. I think it’s just three guys that really gel. We kind of have all the components you need to make a good line.”
Morgan Barron scored on a penalty shot three minutes into the second, before Kyle Connor hammered home his 30th of the year at the midway mark. Vanecek's night was done after 40 minutes, to which Mackenzie Blackwood filled in for the third period.
Morgan Barron scores on a second period penalty shot.
After picking up the assist on Connor's second period marker, Pierre-Luc Dubois got his 26th goal of the season midway through the third, before Ehlers potted his second of the contest on a power play with six minutes remaining.
Hischier ruined the shutout in the dying moments, but the team and fans alike were able to celebrate the second-straight six-goal effort of the weekend.
"They’re making plays, they’re starting to feel good to see that puck finally going in the net for them," head coach Rick Bowness said. "We love the fact they’re making those great plays, the D are involved, and that’s how we want to play. It feels good for the guys. I’m happy for the guys to see the puck finally go in the net for them."
Much like Winnipeg, Calgary was also able to pick up another win on Sunday, which kept the Flames just two points behind the Jets with both teams having five games left on their respective schedules.
Calgary will next face off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, before travelling to Winnipeg for quite possibly the 'game of the year' at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday. And for the third-straight game, the Jets will host a team on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Should Calgary win its game in Chicago, it would be tied with Winnipeg points-wise for the final wild card spot, but the Jets would hold the tiebreaker in terms of ROW.
The Jets will then look onward to Saturday's contest against another hard-charging offence in the Nashville Predators. Winnipeg will close out its season-long five-game homestand on Monday when Erik Karlsson and the San Jose Sharks make their final visit to Canada Life Centre. The Jets will conclude their season out on the road with games against Minnesota and Colorado the following week.
Wednesday's game will feature a 6:30 PM central start time and will be available to view on Sportsnet.