Jets close out regular season with 8th-straight win, secure Jennings Trophy for defensive stinginess

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.

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. They 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.

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 defenceman Josh Morrissey and starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The Canucks sat forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.

Up next

The Jets and Canucksare both scheduled to open the Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday. Winnipeg will host the Colorado Avalanche, while Vancouver will host the Nashville Predators.