04/18/24 11:18:00
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04/18 23:17 CDT Jets beat Canucks 4-2 in the regular-season finale for the
playoff-bound teams
Jets beat Canucks 4-2 in the regular-season finale for the playoff-bound teams
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) --- Nikita Chibrikov scored the game-winner in his NHL
debut and Cole Perfetti added two goals as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Vancouver
Canucks 4-2 Thursday night in the regular-season finale for the playoff-bound
teams.
"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 Thursday.
The victory produced some notable accomplishments for Winnipeg.
The Jets finished the regular season giving up 199 total goals, the fewest in
the league and one less than the Florida Panthers, to earn the 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. 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 secured 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 won two of the three games
against the Canucks this season. 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
added a power-play goal.
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 defenseman Quinn Hughes
said. "He made some massive saves tonight and he's going to make some big saves
throughout the (playoff) series."
The Canucks had their two-game win streak halted and closed out their last five
games with a record of 3-1-1.
Both clubs rested players as they prepare for the first round of the playoffs.
The Jets were without top-line forwards Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, as well
as star defenseman Josh Morrissey and starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The
Canucks sat forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.
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."
UP NEXT
Canucks: Will host the Nashville Predators in the opener of a first-round
playoff series on Sunday.
Jets: Will host the Colorado Avalanche in the opener of a first-round playoff
series on Sunday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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