Jets fly past Canucks in season finale
WINNIPEG — Nikita Chibrikov had a memorable NHL debut.
The Winnipeg Jets forward scored the game-winner and Cole Perfetti tallied a pair of goals as the Jets defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 to close out their regular seasons on Thursday.
“It’s like the dream, which you start from the first steps on the ice and live with this every day,” said Chibrikov, who was called up from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose earlier in the day.
The victory produced some notable accomplishments in front of the 10th sellout crowd of the season at Canada Life Centre.
The Jets finished the regular season giving up 199 total goals, the fewest in the NHL and one less than the Florida Panthers, to earn the league’s William M. Jennings Trophy for the first time.
“Give the players credit,” Jets head coach Rick Bowness said. “The players have to go on the ice and do it, and they have to go out there every night and be committed to it.”
The Jets also extended their win streak to eight games, tying the franchise record they set earlier this season. Their 52 victories (52-24-6) also matched the franchise record for wins in a season with the 2017-18 squad.
Winnipeg’s 110 points — the most by any Canadian team this season — gave the Jets second place in the Western Conference behind Dallas and home-ice advantage in the first three rounds of the playoffs against teams other than the Stars.
Gabe Vilardi also scored for the Jets, who won the season series against the Canucks 2-1, and Laurent Brossoit made 18 saves for his 15th win of the season in his 23rd game.
Conor Garland had a goal and assist for the Canucks (50-23-9). Elias Lindholm scored on the power play.
Thatcher Demko stopped 22 of 25 shots in his second straight start in net for Vancouver after returning from a 14-game absence because of a knee injury.
“Thatcher is the last guy I’m worried about,” Vancouver defenceman Quinn Hughes said. “He made some massive saves tonight and he’s going to make some big saves throughout the [playoff] series.”
The Canucks snapped a two-game win streak and finished 3-1-1 in their last five games.
Both clubs rested players as they prepare for the first round of the NHL playoffs. Winnipeg takes on the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver faces the Nashville Predators.
Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said his team’s play wasn’t bad.
“Got to move on,” he said. “Now the big time. The big prize now is playing on Sunday.”
The Jets and Canucks will both begin their playoff series on Sunday.
The Jets were without topline forwards Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, as well as star defenceman Josh Morrissey and starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The Canucks sat forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser and defenceman Filip Hronek.