Dylan DeMelo needs to deliver Canadian hockey followers greater than a Presidents’ Trophy.
The Winnipeg Jets clinched the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy Sunday for many factors within the NHL common season although they misplaced 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers.
The achievement provides the Jets home-ice benefit all through the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The final Canadian crew to win the Presidents’ Trophy was the Vancouver Canucks in 2011-12, who additionally gained it the earlier season.
DeMelo, who hails from London, Ont., was requested if he felt extra delight in ending that drought.
“No, probably not, to be trustworthy,” he mentioned. “I feel we need to be the primary Canadian crew since ’93 to win the Cup. That’s what we’re right here for.”
The Montreal Canadiens are the final membership to say the Cup in 1992-93.
“To have the ability to have that skill to have dwelling ice all through the entire playoffs, and hopefully we will go on a long term and use that to our benefit,” DeMelo mentioned. “It’s not the trophy we’re after, however it’s a pleasant accomplishment.”
The Jets captured the Trophy after Washington misplaced 4-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier within the evening and may’t catch them in factors.
The Capitals (50-21-9) have 109 factors and two video games left to play. Winnipeg is at 114 factors (55-21-4) and has one match left Wednesday at dwelling towards the Anaheim Geese.
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When the Trophy information was introduced, 15,225 followers at Canada Life Centre gave the crew a standing ovation. It was Winnipeg’s seventh consecutive full home and fifteenth of the season.
“It’s positively an incredible accomplishment,” Jets ahead Nino Niederreiter mentioned. “After 81 video games, having the ability to get the Presidents’ Trophy is an enormous accomplishment, however it is just step one as now it’s the playoffs that matter most.”
Winnipeg’s first-round opponent isn’t identified but. The Oilers will tackle the Los Angeles Kings of their opening spherical.
Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Corey Perry and Viktor Arvidsson, into an empty internet, scored for Edmonton (47-28-5), which has gained three in a row. Connor McDavid had two assists.
Stuart Skinner made 17 saves for the Oilers, who host the Kings on Monday earlier than ending the common season Wednesday in San Jose towards the Sharks.
Alex Iafallo scored for the Jets, who had a three-game win streak snapped.
Backup goalie Eric Comrie made 35 saves for Winnipeg, which additionally ended a four-game win run at dwelling.
Winnipeg already clinched prime spot within the Western Convention and Central Division for the primary time in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers’ historical past. The Thrashers did win the Southeast Division in 2006-07.
Jets head coach Scott Arniel mentioned the convention and division prime spots have been on the crew’s to-do listing this season, however not the Presidents’ Trophy.
“No, by no means,” Arniel mentioned. “Definitely, it jumped on there over the past month or so. On the finish of the day, it’s a heck of an accomplishment. Guys must be actual happy with it.
“Simply what we’ve gone by way of this 12 months and to be proper within the thick of issues all 12 months lengthy, as among the best within the league, it’s a heck of an accomplishment. However on the finish of the day, it’s not the trophy we’re after.”
Brown flipped a backhand previous Comrie 59 seconds into the second interval for his thirteenth aim of the season and a 1-0 lead, extending his aim streak to 4 in three video games.
Iafallo scored on the facility play 5 minutes later. Henrique made it 2-1 at 12:39, seven seconds after an Edmonton energy play ended and with the Jets further defenceless.
Ahead Morgan Barron had misplaced his stick and defenceman Dylan Samberg was mendacity on the ice grimacing in ache after a tough McDavid shot hit his left leg. He was helped off the ice and went to the dressing room.
Arniel mentioned Samberg must be OK.
Perry and Arvidsson scored within the third interval.
Edmonton was with out injured defenceman Mattias Ekhom and ahead Zach Hyman. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was sick.
“Tonight everybody performed a extremely strong sport,” Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned. “Whether or not it was the primary or fourth line, all six defence. Clearly, (Skinner) had a strong sport. So it was good to see.”
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