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The Winnipeg Jets closed out their regular season with a 2-1 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, and will kick off the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday evening at home.
Mark Scheifele played the hero in the extra frame, scoring just 1:11 into overtime to seal the win. Neal Pionk had the other goal for Winnipeg, while Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 30 shots to earn the victory.
The Jets finish the season with a record of 56-22-4, setting a franchise-best 116 points to win the Presidents’ Trophy.
The Jets have now won four of their last five games heading into the postseason.
Playoff opener set for Saturday
Winnipeg will open Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. Game 1 is set for 5 p.m. CDT at Canada Life Centre. The Blues secured the final wild-card spot in the West on Tuesday night.
The Jets had the edge over St. Louis during the regular season, going 3-1-0. That includes a 3-1 win on April 7, which snapped a 12-game win streak for the Blues.
This marks the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs since 2019, when the Blues defeated the Jets in six games en route to their Stanley Cup victory.
The Jets will be looking to break their recent postseason struggles, having been eliminated in the first round in each of the last two years.
Hellebuyck earns Jennings Trophy again
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was also honoured on Wednesday, winning the William M. Jennings Trophy for the second straight season. The award is given to the goaltender who plays at least 25 games and allows the fewest goals during the regular season.
Hellebuyck becomes just the fifth netminder in NHL history to win the award in back-to-back years since it was introduced in 1981-82.
The full schedule for Round 1 is expected to be released Thursday night.