Nikita Chibrikov scored the game-winning goal in his first-ever NHL game, and Cole Perfetti contributed two goals as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Thursday night in the final game of the regular season for teams heading to the playoffs.
“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 brought up from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose earlier in the day. The win marked some significant achievements for Winnipeg.
The Jets finished the regular season conceding the fewest goals in the league, with a total of 199 goals against, earning them 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 winning streak to eight games, tying the franchise record. Their 52 victories (52-24-6) matched the franchise record set by the 2017-18 squad.
Winnipeg’s 110 points secured them second place in the Western Conference, earning home-ice advantage in the first three playoff rounds against teams other than the Dallas Stars.
Gabe Vilardi also scored for the Jets, who won two out of 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 an assist for the Canucks (50-23-9), with Elias Lindholm adding a power-play goal.
Thatcher Demko stopped 22 of 25 shots in his second consecutive start in net for Vancouver after returning from a 14-game absence due to 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 winning streak halted and ended their last five games with a record of 3-1-1. Both teams rested key players in preparation for 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.
