WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Winnipeg Jets secured the first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history on Sunday night, when the East-leading Washington Capitals lost earlier in the day.
The Jets, atop the Western Conference most of the season, then went out and lost to the Edmonton Oilers, 4-1, on Sunday night on home ice, but with the prize for the league’s most regular-season points already in tow, coach Scott Arniel rested several key players.
“It definitely felt great,” Jets forward Nino Niederreiter said when asked how the team reacted when the news was announced inside Canada Life Centre during the loss. “Everyone wants to be on top at the end of the day. And obviously, it was a great feeling to hear the cheer.”
According to ESPN Research, the Jets, who will now be the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason, are the first Canadian franchise to win the award since the Vancouver Canucks did so in 2011-12. The Canucks did not win the Stanley Cup that season, and in many cases, the trophy winner does not even make the Cup Final. Last year, for instance, the New York Rangers cruised to the Presidents’ Trophy only to lose to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
“It’s nice. To be able to have that ability to have home-ice (advantage) throughout the whole playoffs, and hopefully we can go on a long run, and use that to our advantage,” Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo said. “It’s not the trophy we’re after, but it is a nice accomplishment. It’s been a fantastic year, it really has.”
Overall, the Jets, according to ESPN Research, are the eighth Canadian team to win the award that was first handed out in 1985-86. The Edmonton Oilers, in 1985-86 and 1986-87, were the first Canadian winners.
“It’s really appreciated,” Arniel said, when asked about the fans giving the club a standing ovation for the award. “They’ve been great fans, and they’ve been real loud, and supporting us all the way, and believe me, it is felt.”
For Edmonton, Corey Perry had a goal and an assist, Connor McDavid had two assists, and Connor Brown, Adam Henrique and Viktor Arvidsson also scored en route to the victory. In the loss, the Jets sat star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck along with captain Adam Lowry and defensemen Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk and Luke Schenn.
Winnipeg will end the regular season at home against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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