Jets douse Flames, clinch playoffs

Field Level Media|published: Thu 4th April, 23:16 2024

Apr 4, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4), Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) watch the play in the second period at Canada Life Centre. credits: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

Gabriel Vilardi notched his first NHL hat trick to help the Winnipeg Jets clinch a playoff spot with a 5-2 win against the visiting Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist, Tyler Toffoli also scored, Josh Morrissey had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves for the Jets (46-24-6, 98 points), who remain four points behind the Colorado Avalanche for second place in the Central Division with six games left for each.

MacKenzie Weegar had a goal and an assist, Daniil Miromanov also scored and Dustin Wolf made 40 saves for the Flames (34-36-5, 73 points), who have lost seven of eight and six straight on the road.

Weegar scored his 19th goal of the season with a wrist shot from the high slot while on a power play to give the Flames a 1-0 lead 4:35 into the game.

The Jets had a 5-on-3 for 1:28 later in the period and couldn't capitalize, but Vilardi scored with 10 seconds remaining on the second penalty off a touch pass into the middle by Kyle Connor. That tied it 1-1 at 12:59.

Winnipeg moved ahead 2-1 at 14:56 of the first period after Cole Perfetti won possession in the corner and centered a pass to Ehlers for the redirection.

Calgary defenseman Daniil Miromanov took a shot from just inside the blue line that nicked off Jets defenseman Neal Pionk before glancing off the post and into the net at 10:34 of the second period.

The Jets moved back ahead 3-2 with another power-play goal at 15:35 of the second period. Toffoli tried to center a pass to Vladislav Namestnikov, but it went off the pad of Wolf and across the goal line for Toffoli's 31st of the season.

Pospisil received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Morrissey with 44 seconds left in the second period. The best scoring chance came on a 3-on-1 by the Flames, which was snuffed out by Hellebuyck.

Vilardi then swiped a loose puck into the net from in front of the crease to stretch the lead to 4-2 at 8:44 of the third. He scored into an empty net with 1:04 left to secure the hat trick.

—Field Level Media