The Winnipeg Jets will have the chance to become the first team to hit 50 wins this season as the New Jersey Devils visit Canada Life Centre for the second and final meeting between the interconference opponents.

Winnipeg became the second team this season to clinch a playoff spot, following the Washington Capitals. Last game, Alex Ovechkin tied things up at two with his 36th of the season—now just six goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals. The game went to overtime, and with the single point, Winnipeg punched their ticket to the playoffs for the third straight season. But they didn’t settle for just one point. Nikolaj Ehlers took a feed from Dylan Samberg, charged into the Washington zone, and unleashed a missile past Logan Thompson’s glove, sealing a 3-2 overtime win and sending Canada Life Centre into a frenzy.

“This was a big challenge for us, and I believe they felt the same way in the other room,” Ehlers said postgame. “We played really well, I thought. When we got pucks deep and worked down low, we generated zone time and kept them out of our end. That’s something we need to keep doing against the teams we have coming up because it’s going to help us in the playoffs.”

The victory improved Winnipeg’s record to 49-19-4—just one win shy of the coveted 50.

With a playoff berth secured, the next target is locking up the top spot in the Central Division. Winnipeg sits at 102 points, but the Dallas Stars (96) and Colorado Avalanche (91) are still within striking distance, with Dallas holding a game in hand. Finishing first would allow the Jets to avoid facing Dallas or Colorado in the opening round and instead match up with the second wild-card team, which is currently a tight race between Minnesota, St. Louis, Vancouver, Calgary, and Utah.

“We’re not taking these games off by any means,” said defenceman Dylan DeMelo. “We haven’t accomplished anything yet, really. Now we’re trying to clinch the Central, maybe even the conference. There’s a lot to play for. We’re not taking our foot off the gas.”

“We’re going to keep pushing and make sure our game is dialed in come playoff time.”

The final stretch of 10 games will be a grind, but the Jets are ready to finish strong.

Connor – Scheifele – Iafallo

Ehlers – Lowry – Appleton

Niederreiter – Namestnikov – Perfetti

Gustafsson – Barron – Tanev

Morrissey – DeMelo

Samberg – Schenn

Stanley – Miller

Hellebuyck

Comrie

Palat – Hischier – Meier

Haula – Mercer – Bratt

Cotter – Dowling – Noesen

Tatar – Lazar – Bastian

L. Hughes – Pesce

Dumoulin – Kovacevic

Dillon – Nemec

Allen

Markstrom