Jets clinch playoff berth, shut out Flames to end seven-game skid

CALGARY -- The Winnipeg Jets clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves in a 4-0 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.

Blake Wheeler and Adam Lowry each scored two goals for the Jets (28-21-3), who ended a seven-game losing streak and qualified for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
"All you're looking for when you start the season is an opportunity," said Wheeler, the Jets captain. "Anything can happen now. It was nice for everyone to get a result tonight. Our game has been way better the last few games. It was really important for our team to get rewarded. It was a good result for us tonight."

Jacob Markstrom made 15 saves for the Flames (22-26-3), who were 0-for-5 on the power play and have lost three of four.
"I don't think we were desperate enough to win tonight," Calgary forward Mikael Backlund said. "We've got five games left and we'll leave it all out there. We'll see where it takes us."
Winnipeg moved two points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens for third in the seven-team Scotia North Division and trails the second-place Edmonton Oilers by seven points. Calgary is fifth, 10 points behind Montreal for the last of four playoff berths from the division.
"Until you're officially eliminated, you still have a chance," Flames captain Mark Giordano said. "Montreal has a couple games here against [the Toronto Maple Leafs] now, who are No. 1 in our division. We're coming into this game (against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday) with a must-win mentality."
Lowry gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead at 1:09 of the first period when he shot under Markstrom's glove on an odd-man rush, then made it 2-0 with a shorthanded goal at 5:33 of the second when he scored on a backhand.
"During the slide there, there were some moments where you kind of thought, 'Is this thing ever going to end?'" Lowry said. "We're glad that's behind us now. We're just looking forward to continuing to get better and peaking for the playoffs."

Wheeler extended the lead to 3-0 on a breakaway at 18:46, shortly after Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk chipped a shot into the air and off the top of the crossbar.
"It makes it a lot tougher when you get down, and then you get down a couple and you're chasing the game," Giordano said. "You try to take chances, and if you do have a turnover or a missed play, it ends up coming back at you. The guys didn't lose belief or anything like that. They came out and got that early goal, and then you're chasing it for the rest of the night."
Wheeler scored on the power play 3:02 into the third period for the 4-0 final. It was his 800th NHL point in his 977th game (277 goals, 523 assists).
"This night belongs to our team and the fact we're going back to the playoffs," Wheeler said. "That's all I play for, especially this part of my career, is just having the opportunity to achieve the ultimate goal. That's what makes this night special."
NOTES: Jets center Mark Scheifele scored his 500th NHL point, in his 571st game, with an assist on Wheeler's second goal (199 goals, 301 assists). ... Wheeler has scored six points (three goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. ... It was coach Paul Maurice's 300th win with Winnipeg (300-211-57). … Calgary is 1-21-1 when trailing entering the third period. ... Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau had his seven-game point streak end (three goals, five assists).