Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti scored in the shootout, and the Winnipeg Jets clinched the franchise’s first Central Division title and the No. 1 seed for the Western Conference playoffs with a wild 5-4 victory over Chicago on Saturday night.
Winnipeg won for the fourth time in five games. It went 26-15-0 on the road this season, setting a franchise record for road wins.
Josh Morrissey had two third-period goals for the Jets, who trailed 2-0 after one. Connor had a goal and an assist in regulation, and Nino Niederreiter also scored.
Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers departed after he backed into an official in the second period. Ehlers, who has 24 goals and 39 assists in 69 games, had to be helped off the ice after he got hurt with 5:34 left.
Jets coach Scott Arniel said the team will know more about Ehlers after it gets home. The Jets host the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night.
Arniel said it was “just a little bit of the injury that he had before.” The 29-year-old Ehlers missed nine games with a lower-body injury before returning on Dec. 18 at Anaheim.
“They just ran into each other. It was a tough play, especially to lose him on that situation,” Arniel said. “It wasn’t a blocked shot. … It was a freak accident.”
A long-term issue for Ehlers would be a big blow for Winnipeg (55-21-4), which clinched the franchise’s first Central Division title and the No. 1 seed for the Western Conference playoffs when it went into overtime at Chicago. The 29-year-old Ehlers has 24 goals and 39 assists in 69 games.
“Just a weird play and a fluky play and hopefully he’s OK,” Morrisey said.
Frank Nazar and Connor Bedard each had a goal and an assist for Chicago in its home finale. Ryan Donato also scored, and captain Nick Foligno had a short-handed goal.
Chicago forward Pat Maroon and defenceman Alec Martinez each played in their last NHL game. The team saluted Maroon with a highlight video in the first period and did the same for Martinez in the third.
When it was over, the Jets stayed on the ice for a handshake line with Maroon and Martinez.
Winnipeg grabbed a 3-2 lead when Morrissey converted a long slap shot for his 13th goal at 2:08 of the third. But Donato responded for Chicago with 9:07 left, extending his career high with his 31st goal.
Jets: The Ehlers injury is a concern so close to the end of the regular season.
Chicago: It was one of the team’s better all-around games, but a shaky stretch in the second period proved costly.
Nazar came up empty on a prime scoring opportunity in the final seconds of regulation.
Winnipeg had 28 hits, compared to 16 for Chicago.
Winnipeg hosts Edmonton on Sunday night. Chicago visits Montreal on Monday night.
