The Winnipeg Jets got back to their winning ways with a 4-3 OT win over the Oilers in Edmonton last night. Kyle Connor played hero with the OT winning goal, keeping him 3rd in the league in goals with 37 and now 5th in the league in points with 86. While it wasn’t the most perfect game for the Jets, including going 0 for 4 on the powerplay, the team did what they needed to in order to find a way of getting the 2 points. At the 70 game mark, the Jets picked up their 48th win, giving them 100 points on the season, the fastest they’ve reached this total in franchise history.

While the Jets were off on Friday, they’ll hit the ice at home for practice on Saturday. The Sabres will make a visit on Sunday afternoon, marking the 1st of 4 straight games at home for the Jets. It’s an early 2 pm CT start on Sunday, against a team near the bottom of the NHL standings and a team that has been trending downwards post trade deadline. Eric Comrie may get the start in this one against his former team, as Connor Hellebuyck could be rested for Tuesday’s big game against the Washington Capitals.

Number 1 and 2 in the NHL league standings will battle it out on Tuesday night in Winnipeg at 7 pm CT. Both teams have 100 points (the Capitals have one less game played) and the Capitals became the 1st team to clinch a playoff spot last night. I’ll get to how the Jets can clinch a playoff spot shortly, but before that there’s two more games for the Jets at home to end off the month of March.

The New Jersey Devils will be in town Friday night at 7 pm CT. The Devils are a team that are still holding on to the 3rd place spot in the Metropolitan Division, but have struggled as of late. Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton are out for the season, and Jacob Markstrom hasn’t been as good as he can in net since returning from injury. The 4 game home stand concludes next Sunday (March 30th) at 2 pm CT against the Canucks. These two teams just met on Tuesday in Vancouver, where the Canucks shocked the Jets 6-2. It wasn’t the best game for the Jets, but this next game will be different if the Jets play as well as they usually play at Canada Life Centre.

Switching over to the question that’s on the most Jets fans minds right now, which is when will the Jets officially and mathematically clinch a playoff spot. I’ve seen people asking why the Jets haven’t clinched yet when the Capitals just did and they both have 100 points. The simple answer to that is that the Western Conference wild card spot holders have more points than the Eastern Conference wild card holders. It’s only a matter of time now before the Jets punch their playoff ticket, but Saturday could be the 1st chance that spot is secured.

Although the Jets are idle (not playing) tomorrow night, the Jets can clinch a playoff berth on Saturday if two things happen. The St. Louis Blues, who currently hold the 2nd wild card spot in the West must lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in any fashion. The Blackhawks just became the 2nd team to be eliminated from playoff contention, so the Blues will be playing a team that’s just trying to get through the rest of their season. The second thing that must happen for the Jets to clinch on Saturday is that the Vancouver Canucks need to lose to the New York Rangers in regulation time. If either of these teams win, the Jets will need to wait a little longer to officially clinch a playoff spot.

I’d have to double check the math on this, but I believe the Jets could secure a playoff spot on Sunday afternoon with a win over the Sabres. 100 points is already enough for a team to make the playoffs with this current format, but getting to 102 on Sunday could mathematically make it impossible for other teams to catch the Jets. Either way, it’s only going to be a few days before the Jets post their playoff clinched graphic on their socials. The next step after a playoff spot will be securing the Central Division, followed by the top spot in the Western Conference and potentially in the league.

Only 12 games to go in the regular season for the Jets now, and every game will be important one way or another. The Jets will play the Sabres on Sunday at 2 pm CT, so check back here Sunday morning for a preview of the 1st game of the Jets upcoming 4 game home stand.