Hellebuyck makes 32 saves, Jets defeat Flames for third straight win

WINNIPEG -- The Calgary Flames lost in regulation for the first time in eight games, 3-1 to the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Friday.

Calgary finishes the regular season in first place in the Pacific Division and will play the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference First Round beginning Tuesday.
"We played our game; it's three in four nights and two overtime games," Calgary coach Darryl Sutter said. "We just played 82 games, we got points in 61, so I would say that they've done a pretty good job of it."
Matthew Tkachuk scored his 42nd goal for the Flames (50-21-11), who were 5-0-2 in their previous seven games. Dan Vladar made 40 saves, including 18 in the second period.
"A really good first period," Sutter said. "Second period, our goalie made some saves. We played a pretty easy game. In the third, we showed what we were capable of doing, we just couldn't score."
Mason Appleton and Blake Wheeler scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves for the Jets (38-32-11), who have won three straight and will conclude their season Sunday against the Seattle Kraken.
"An average start, they had a couple chances but [Hellebuyck] made some good saves," Appleton said. "And then from there we poured on the shots. I think we were getting outshot by 10 early in the game, and then we put up, what, a 40-spot? Anytime you put up 40 you're usually going to like how the scoreboard looks at the end of the game, so we were happy with our effort."

Tkachuk gave Calgary a 1-0 lead at 3:19 of the first period with a breakaway after stealing the puck from Winnipeg defenseman Brenden Dillon.
"I thought the last two games we've really battled hard, and today came out [and] had a really good first period, let it slip a bit in the second and made it a pretty tight game in the third," Flames forward Mikael Backlund said. "Pretty even game. That was our mission, we wanted to keep playing all the way till the end and have a good feeling going into the playoffs."
Wheeler scored for the third straight game to tie it 1-1 at 19:47 with a one-timer on a backhand cross-ice pass from Nikolaj Ehlers.
"We just started playing," Winnipeg coach Dave Lowry said. "We always talk about goals in the last minute of periods and momentum. We got the one in the first and we talked about needing to get inside a little bit more after the first. [Appleton] scores one on a playable puck off the net."

Appleton gave the Jets a 2-1 lead at 6:06 of the second period, scoring on a rebound from a Josh Morrissey point shot.
Dillon scored into an empty net at 19:40 of the third period for the 3-1 final.
"I see a team that, when they put their mind to it, is very good and they have an opportunity to win every night," Lowry said. "I know that sometimes it's easier when you don't have the pressure of playoffs. But structurally, the group is committed, and we've had the results."
NOTES: Tkachuk extended his point streak to eight games (12 points; five goals, seven assists). … Flames forward Dillon Dube played his 200th NHL game. … Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau had his seven-game point streak end (14 points, six goals, eight assists). … The Jets are 27-1-1 this season when leading after two periods.