Kyle Connor netted two goals, and Tyler Toffoli broke a third-period tie, propelling the Winnipeg Jets to a crucial 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night.
The victory clinched the Jets second place in the Central Division, granting them home-ice advantage in their first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche.
“Obviously, that’s what we wanted to do tonight,” said Nikolaj Ehlers, who contributed a goal and an assist. “It wasn’t beautiful all the way through, but we got it done, and that’s what’s important.”
Winnipeg (51-24-6) extended its winning streak to seven games in front of its eighth sold-out crowd of the season at Canada Life Centre.
Toffoli scored the decisive goal with a backhand shot past Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer during a power play with 8:20 remaining in the third period, assisted by Ehlers.
“Nice to get that out of the way in this game,” Connor said of securing home-ice advantage. “I thought we stuck with it, you know, ups and downs in the game.”
Connor’s two goals extended his point streak to eight games, amassing four goals and eight assists in that span.
“I see him skating really well at both ends of the ice. He really is,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said of Connor. “That tells you that he’s engaged in the game. There have been some great backchecks.”
Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey each contributed two assists.
Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves for the Jets, who will wrap up the regular season at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
Yanni Gourde had a goal and an assist, and Tomas Tatar and Tye Kartye also scored for the Kraken (33-35-13).
“I think it doesn’t matter who we’re playing; we’ve got to bring that every night,” Kartye said. “It’s a good team over there, and we made a pretty good effort.”
Grubauer stopped 20 shots for Seattle, which lost its fourth consecutive game and will finish its season Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.
“Our entire team fought hard tonight,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “Regardless of anything else, we’re in a situation where we’ve dug out of a two-goal deficit, got ourselves back to even.
“We take a careless penalty, and that’s the difference in a hockey game like this. We did a heck of a job for the first minute and 50 of the kill, but they found a spot inside and found the game-winner on that.”
The Jets welcomed veteran forward Nino Niederreiter back after he missed the past five games due to a skate cut that nicked his Achilles tendon.
Winnipeg forward Morgan Barron left the game in the first period and didn’t return due to a lower-body injury. Bowness said he’ll be evaluated further.
UP NEXT
- Kraken: Travel to Minnesota to play the Wild on Thursday night.
- Jets: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
