The Winnipeg Jets have locked up a playoff spot and will proceed toward securing the top spot in the Central Division and the Western Conference when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday.
The Jets (49-14-4, 102 points) clinched a postseason berth for a third straight season and the fourth time in the past five campaigns with an overtime win Tuesday against the NHL-best Washington Capitals.
The Jets now trail the Capitals by one point for the top spot in the league.
As emotional as the victory was for the Jets, they know their focus has to be forward and not back.
“I would say right now probably the biggest thing is getting ready for the next opponent,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said of his team’s strongest trait. “It really is. As much as we’ve had so many highs this year that we’ve been able to park it and move on to the next one.
“… As big as that game was the other night, guess what, there’s another big one coming on Friday. Dallas isn’t leaving our rearview mirror (in the Western Conference standings), so we’ve just got to keep plowing forward. Our group has been really good about just focusing on what’s next.”
The Jets have alternated wins and losses over the past four games, with both victories in overtime. Prior to that stretch, Winnipeg won five of its previous six games in a run that included a 6-1 road victory against the Devils on March 7.
Nikolaj Ehlers has been on a roll of late for Winnipeg, riding a four-game point streak (three goals, one assist). He has 10 points (six goals, four assists) over his past 10 games.
The 29-year-old, who scored the overtime winner against Washington on Tuesday, is five goals shy of matching his career high of 29 set in 2017-18 and is three points away from equaling his career-best of 64 points set in 2016-17.
“He recognizes who he’s playing with,” Arniel said. “He knows how to get to holes. … He’s a veteran player. He’s been around a little while. Knows how to play in a lot of situations.”
The Devils look to build off a 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. It was just the second win in the past six games for New Jersey (38-28-7, 83 points).
“Just what we needed for the start of the road trip,” New Jersey forward Dawson Mercer said. “Get two points under our belt and be happy with our game moving on now for the next one. It’s great when everyone contributes when we get a win like that.”
A contender for top spot in the Metropolitan Division earlier in the season, the Devils have struggled in the second half with long-term injuries to Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler. Hughes is done for the season, while Hamilton and Siegenthaler are each out for at least the remainder of the regular season.
“You want to right the ship,” Devils forward Curtis Lazar said. “Every time you step on the ice, in the NHL anyone can beat anyone. You can’t look too far ahead and can’t look too far behind as well. You have to live in that moment and come ready to play every day.”
Mercer’s two goals against Chicago gave him 17 on the season, putting him the verge of hitting the 20-goal mark for a third straight season.
–Field Level Media
