ST. PAUL, Minnesota - X marks the spot. In this case, it's the second wild card berth in the Western Conference playoff picture.
The Winnipeg Jets ensured they would leave nothing to chance, punching their ticket to the postseason party in Game 81 after earning a 3-1 victory over a Central Division rival in a game that got more than a tad spicy during the third period.
“It’s phenomenal. We did it as a team and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. Now I look forward to our next step,” said Connor Hellebuyck, who was outstanding in his 13th consecutive start and league-leading 64th of the season. “We battled our adversity. It might have taken us a little bit longer but I think we figured ourselves out. We have the character in the room and now we know what our game is. To come out and show it through this stretch is huge.”
The Jets earned the eighth seed and will open the Stanley Cup playoffs against one of the Vegas Golden Knights or the Edmonton Oilers.
“Things weren't going very well for us for a while. We dug ourselves out of a hole and we found a way to get on a winning streak,” said Jets coach Rick Bowness, who clearly had a look of relief on his face as he addressed the media. “I know people had written us off there for a while. We just fought through it. Every team that gets into the playoffs at this time of year and you're on the bottom end, you've got to fight through some adversity. You've got to fight through some second-guessing and that's fine.
“That's all part of our business but, again, give our players full marks because they stayed focused on the process of what we had to do, game in and game out to get us into the playoffs. So good for them."
Hellebuyck once again did his part and then some. The Jets netminder made 33 saves, including the latest in a long line of highlight-reel specials to rob Mats Zuccarello late in the third period with a ridiculous paddle stop.
“It’s hard to rank them. That one felt pretty good. I’ll tell you that,” said Hellebuyck, who will finally get a breather on Thursday as David Rittich will start against the Colorado Avalanche in the regular season finale. “It’s hard to describe. You’re really just giving yourself a chance at it, when you feel it clean you know it’s coming out the other side and to be ready for whatever is going to ensue. A nick feels different than catching it clean.”
Hellebucyk’s play down the stretch has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Outside of being a workhorse, his ability to rise to the occasion stood out as he helped lead the Jets back into the playoffs after missing out last spring.
“He won that game for us. The saves he made down the stretch were amazing. Obviously we sat back a little too much and gave them way too much respect and way too much room to make plays. But he won that game for us,” said Mark Scheifele, whose 42nd goal of the season turned out to be the game-winner. “I think that game should have won him the Vezina. That game he played, the way he’s played for us, he’s our most valuable player. We wouldn’t be where we are without him. He’s been amazing.”
When told about Scheifele’s comments, Hellebuyck took a moment to reflect, then quickly made it clear he wasn’t concerned about potentially adding a second Vezina to his trophy case right now.
“I was thinking about that a little bit during the year. That’s too much of a personal thing,” said Hellebuyck. “I want to be part of the team. I don’t really care about the individual accolades, so I took that right out of my mind, and I’ve just been focusing on the next goal and that’s winning a Cup. Now that we’re near the end, I’d be proud to be nominated and I’d be proud to make a good run here.”
Scheifele did his part to help the Jets get back to the postseason as well, notching his team-leading 10th game-winning goal of the season.
After working through a tough stretch, he’s been reinvigorated by the move to the wing on the top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Kyle Connor. Sheifele scored four goals and added three assists over the past six games.
This was the type of response Bowness was looking for after sending a strong message to the entire team by benching Scheifele, Connor and Nino Niederreiter for nearly 12 minutes in the second period of a game against the Carolina Hurricanes nearly a month ago.
Scheifele needed some time to recalibrate after the benching, but during the stretch run he returned to being an impact player and that’s what the Jets will need him to continue to be as the second season approaches.
“We know we have a good team in here,” said Scheifele. “We just got away from what made us good. We got too passive, we got too far away from what made us good at the start of the year. That happens. Confidence gets low and you’re kind of unsure what to do.
“So give credit to every guy in this room. We battled hard the last little while to get back to being in the playoffs. Obviously we wish we would have stayed at the top, but that happens. Everything happens for a reason, and we just have to trust in that plan.”
The Jets' energy line set the tone in this one, as Adam Lowry found the back of the net at 3:53 of the opening period.
Mason Appleton provided a valuable insurance marker at 14:06 of the third, converting a nifty pass from Morgan Barron, who started the play with some tenacious back pressure to steal the puck from Wild winger Matt Boldy.
The temperature rose considerably during the third period as Wild forward Ryan Hartman knocked Nikolaj Ehlers out of the game with a hit in the neutral zone.
“He's in a vulnerable position. He is,” said Bowness, noting Ehlers would be re-evaluated over the next few days. “And you hate to see those hits."
Before the final buzzer had sounded, Jets defenceman Neal Pionk was given a five-minute major for cross-checking Marcus Johansson. Brenden Dillon also dropped the gloves with Hartman, though not many punches were thrown and the two players were given coincidental minors for slashing.
With 24.7 seconds left in regulation, Lowry dropped the gloves with Ryan Reaves in what was a spirited tilt.
“They got really dirty. I don’t know why,” said Hellebuyck. “We were playing hard. I guess they were playing hard too, but they were getting a little unnecessary. I think maybe the refs let it get a little out of control. That’s playoff hockey right there. That’s it.”
The last word belongs to Hellebuyck, who can’t wait to see who the Jets will be facing in the first round.
“I think we just know in this room what it takes and what we have,” said Hellebuyck. “I’m just really excited after this game, it’s really hard to gather myself right now. I’m so excited and I’m just looking forward to the future here.”
