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Winnipeg Jets Make History After Capitals Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Hockey fans might have watched an early preview of the upcoming Stanley Cup Final as the best teams from each conference, the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets, went against each other in a Tuesday showdown.

After the game, ending in a Jets victory, the NHL confirmed Winnipeg is the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth this season, a franchise first, following Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win over the East-leading and NHL-best Capitals.

The league announced the milestone on its PR account shortly after the game ended.

“It’s official – there's a Winnipeg Whiteout headed for the 2025 #StanleyCup Playoffs. ️ The @NHLJets are the first team from their conference to secure a playoff spot – a first in franchise history.”

It’s official – there's a Winnipeg Whiteout headed for the 2025 #StanleyCup Playoffs. ️

The @NHLJets are the first team from their conference to secure a playoff spot – a first in franchise history.#NHLStats: https://t.co/FPOpwEY0ll pic.twitter.com/rd2FzxrJBF
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 26, 2025

The Jets only needed one point to clinch and got it by dragging the game into overtime after Alex Ovechkin tied it for the Capitals with four minutes left in regulation.

Nikolaj Ehlers finished the job 1:28 into the extra frame, scoring on a breakaway to cap the win.

Josh Morrissey and Mason Appleton also found the net for the Jets, while starting netminder and Vezina Trophy favorite Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots.

“This was a big challenge for us,” Ehlers said. “And we played really well, I thought. When we got the pucks deep and worked down there, we got some zone time and kept them out of our zone.

”So, that's something that we want to keep doing against the rest of the teams that we've got coming up here because that's going to help us in the playoffs.”

Washington, which had already clinched last week, remains first in the league with 103 points, one ahead of Winnipeg’s 102.

Now 49-19-4, the Jets hold an eight-point lead over Dallas atop the Central Division.

The Jets can now say they have reached the playoffs in seven of the past eight seasons, although Winnipeg has not advanced past the second round since 2018 when they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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