Valardi nets hat trick as Jets down Flames 5-2 to clinch playoff berth Featured

Written by  Published in Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg, Manitoba (NHN)-Gabriel Valardi fired three goals and Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves as the Winnipeg Jets downed the Calgary Flames by a 5-2 score Thursday night to clinch a Western Conference playoff spot.

The win was their second in a row and moved the Jets to 98 points and 4th place overall in the Western Conference standings.

Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist for Winnipeg.

Josh Morrissey had a pair of assists.

Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Jets.

Connor Hellebuyck won his 33rd game of the season for Winnipeg, who moved to 46-24-6.

MacKenzie Weegar and Martin Pospisil socred for the Flames.

Dustin Wolf turned aside 40 shots for Calgary, who dropped to 34-36-5.

With Nikolaj Ehlers off for tripping, MacKenzie Weegar gave the Flames the lead 4:35 into the first period when Jonathan Huberdeau hit him in the high slot with a crisp pass that Weegar wristed past Hellebuyck, beating him low blocker side to make it 1-0 Calgary.

The goal was his 19th of the season.

Gabriel Valardi tied the game 12:59 into the first with a power play marker when he tapped a Kyle Connor feed past Wolf to make it 1-1 at the tail end of a two-man advantage.

The goal was his 17th of the season.

Nikolaj Ehlers put Winnipeg ahead at 14:56 when he one timed a Cole Perfetti feed past Wolf, beating him low glove side to make it 2-1 Jets.

The goal was his 23rd of the season.

Martin Pospisil tied it up 10:34 into the second on a shot from the point that Jet defenceman Neal Pionk redirected with his skate.

The goal was his 9th of the season.

Tyler Toffoli scored 15:35 into the second on the power play when Nikolaj Ehlers hit him with a cross slot pass which he fired on net and had it go in off a defenceman's skate.

The goal was his 31st of the season.

Martin Pospisil took a five minute major late in the second period for elbowing Josh Morrissey in the head.

The Jets failed to score on the ensuing power play.

Gabriel Valardi batted a puck past Wolf 8:44 into the third to give the Jets a two-goal lead.

Valardi added an empty netter with 1:04 remaining in regulation to seal the win for the Jets.

SHOTS-CALGARY 33 WINNIPEG 45

ATTENDANCE-14,055

Last modified on Friday, 05 April 2024 02:59
Philip Paul-Martin

A well rounded journalist with experience in both print and broadcast mediums, Philip has written news stories with impact, broken national news while at the CBC, anchored radio news and hosted talk show radio. His coverage includes feature writing, game stories and more in-depth pieces during the off-season as well as writing about the National Hockey League and the Winnipeg Jets. He calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home.