WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Blake Wheeler had two goals and two assists, Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 Tuesday night to clinch third place in the North Division.
Kyle Connor had a goal and two assists, Mark Scheifele added a goal and an assist and Mason Appleton also scored for the Jets. Hellebuyck finished with his 24th career shutout.
Winnipeg, which needed just one point to secure third, will face the second-place Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. Toronto and Montrel will meet in the other division series.
Braden Holtby finished with 31 saves for Vancouver, which remained last in the North.
Connor opened the scoring at 7:48 of the first with his 24th of the season and second in two games against Vancouver. Connor took a nice tap pass from Wheeler before beating Holtby.
Appleton had a good scoring chance with under four minutes left but Holtby made the save as the Jets outshot Vancouver 11-6 in the period.
Wheeler put Winnipeg ahead 2-0 at 2:05 of the second, registering his 14th of the season unassisted. Wheeler drew an assist on Scheifele’s deflection at 8:33. It was Scheifele’s 21st of the year as Vancouver held an 11-10 edge in shots on goal.
Wheeler made it 4-0 with his second of the game and 15th of the season at 10:44 of the third. Appleton recorded his 11th of the year at 11:54.
HONORING STASTNY
Veteran Jets forward Paul Stastny was honored prior to the game, which was the 1,000th of his NHL career. With his wife and two young children on the ice, the 35-year-old Stastny — who has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights — was presented with a custom art piece and the first silver stick in franchise history.
