WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets are heading to the playoffs for the first time since they moved back to Winnipeg and the city is going crazy with playoff fever and the Jets treated their fans to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Calgary Flames. The Jets finished the season with a 43-26-13 record good for 99 points, a franchise best.
Michael Hutchinson picked up win for Jets in season finale – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
With both teams already clinching a spot in the dance they both chose to rest some of their key guys before the playoffs start later this week. It gave the Jets a chance to get some bodies into the lineup, the likes of Matt Halischuk, Anthony Peluso, Keaton Ellerby, TJ Galiardi, and Andrew Copp.
Dustin Byfuglien was also back after serving his four-game suspension and he logged just under 25 minutes of ice and had three shots on net.
“We took the right steps,” Byfuglien said. “This group in here has come a long way from the time I [joined the team] and became a close team and stuck together through a lot of ups and downs and [did] the right things.”
The Jets also started goalie Michael Hutchinson who hasn’t seen much action since Ondrej Pavelec got hot and salvaged his season. Hutchinson who was a big part in getting this team to the playoffs stopped 24 out of 25 shots and earned his 21st win of the season.
“It was nice to get back,” said Hutchinson. “There is a little bit of rust to work off when you don’t play as often, but I felt better and better as the game went on.”
The Flames started goalie Joni Ortio and he gave up five goals on 22 shots.
Jets got goals from Drew Stafford his 18th, Michael Frolik his 19th, Lee Stempniak his 15th, Adam Lowry his 11th and Matt Halischuk got his 3rd of the season.
The Jets inserted newly signed Andrew Copp, a fourth round draft pick out of Michigan University and he made his debut and looked really good playing just under fourteen minutes and picking up an assist his 1st NHL game and point. He was named the game’s third star.
This game was a nothing game for both teams who were just looking to get out with no injuries to their regulars and it was more of a glorified exhibition game with more intensity. Although the Jets still played a strong game and look poised to be a dangerous team in the first round.
“For [each] team it was difficult,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “Not a lot of physicality in the game. A bit of an exhibition in terms of overhandling the puck and bringing it back a bunch of times. You’d certainly like to clinch earlier, but you wouldn’t want to have to play too many of those [games].”
Calgary got their lone goal off the stick of Manitoba boy Michael Ferland his 2nd of the season.
“I think we’re playing the same game on the road as at home, so we feel good in visiting rinks,” Flames coach Bob Hartley said. “It’s about Playoff hockey now. If you want to go and move on, you’ll have to go and win on the road, so that’s no problem.”
The Flames will face the Vancouver Canucks in the opening round.
“For the youngsters, it was a great experience for them,” Hartley said. “They were really excited to play. Some of our veteran guys that we did not play, they’ve been carrying injuries for the past month, the past month-and-a-half. They kept going. Obviously now we can get those nagging injuries away from us. We should have a fresh lineup in Vancouver.”
The Jets will wait and see if they play the Blues or the Ducks as they are still playing a late game to end the season.
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