Jets become 1st Western Conference team to clinch playoff spot

The Winnipeg Jets earned a playoff berth faster than any other Western Conference team this season thanks to a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

The Jets only needed a point in the standings to clinch, and they got it by tying the Capitals through 60 minutes. Nikolaj Ehlers then punctuated the occasion with the winner in the extra frame.

Winnipeg sits first in the Central Division at 49-19-4 with an eight-point cushion on the second-place Dallas Stars, who have two games in hand. Dallas is idle Tuesday night.

The Jets have made the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons, only missing out in 2021-22.

Winnipeg reached the Western Conference Final in 2017-18 but lost to the Vegas Golden Knights, whom the Capitals ousted to win the Stanley Cup. Since then, the Jets have failed to advance past the second round and haven't gotten that far since the abbreviated 2021 campaign.

The Capitals were the league's first club to punch a postseason ticket in 2024-25 when they did so Thursday. Washington is still the only Eastern Conference squad to secure a spot in the playoffs this spring.

Alex Ovechkin tied Tuesday's game with four minutes left in the third period. He notched his 889th career tally, moving within six of passing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time record.