Winnipeg earns first playoff spot since 2014-15
Mark Scheifele scored the only goal in a shootout and the Winnipeg Jets clinched a playoff spot with a 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.
The Jets are in the postseason for the first time since 2014-15 and just the second time since their relocation from Atlanta before the 2011-12 season. The franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since 2007.
Jets rookie Kyle Connor scored a power-play goal and had two assists, giving him seven goals in six games. That includes a pair of overtime goals in Winnipeg’s previous two games and gives him 29 on the season. That’s tied with Vancouver’s Brock Boeser for the rookie goal scoring lead. Boeser’s season ended March 5 with a fracture in his lower back.
Dustin Byfuglien also scored on the power play, and Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler each added a goal and an assist for Winnipeg. PENGUINS 5, FLYERS 4 >> Bryan Rust redirected a pass from Sidney Crosby 2:25 into overtime and Pittsburgh finished off a season sweep of Philadelphia.
The Flyers tied it on Sean Couturier’s goal with 43 seconds left in regulation, but the Penguins controlled the extra period. Rust ended it when he got his stick down in time to get a piece of Crosby’s pass from the top of the left circle and knock it by Petr Mrazek to give the Penguins their first sweep of Philadelphia since the 2006-07 season.
Crosby’s spectacular goal 17 seconds into the third period gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 advantage. Crosby held off Couturier high in the zone, skated to the left dot and ripped a wrist shot over Philadelphia defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Mrazek’s glove. Couturier knotted it late to assure the Flyers of at least a point. DUCKS 5, OILERS 4 >> Hampus Lindholm scored 1:21 into overtime to lift Anaheim over Edmonton.
Adam Henrique had two goals and Josh Manson and Corey Perry also scored for the Ducks, who are on a 5-0-1 streak.
CANUCKS 4, STARS 1 >> Reid Boucher and Nic Dowd scored rare goals on the power play, and Vancouver rallied to beat reeling Dallas.
Dallas’ Mattias Janmark started the scoring with a short-handed goal in the first period, but Boucher tied it on the same man advantage. It was Boucher’s third goal this season, all coming over two games in Dallas.
BRUINS 2, WILD 1 >> Brad Marchand scored 28 seconds into overtime to lift Boston over Minnesota.
Tuukka Rask made 24 saves and David Pastrnak also scored for the Bruins, who improved to 47-17-10. SABRES >> Defenseman Will Borgen is skipping his senior season at St. Cloud State after signing a threeyear entry-level contract.