The Winnipeg Jets have officially claimed the top spot in the NHL regular season standings.
After the Washington Capitals lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, the Jets have won the Presidents` Trophy for the first time in their team history.
By finishing as the league`s best regular-season team, the Jets will have the advantage of playing at home throughout the entire playoffs.
Despite a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, the Jets, with a record of 52-23-4, secured the prestigious trophy.
Their opponent for the first round of the playoffs is still undetermined, as the Western Conference wild-card spots remain open. Currently, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues hold the first and second wild-card positions, respectively.
In other Canadian hockey news, the Toronto Maple Leafs aimed to secure the Atlantic Division title but were thwarted by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning`s victory over the Buffalo Sabres means the Maple Leafs need just one more point to clinch the division and set up a first-round series against an Ontario rival.
The Montreal Canadiens are also on the verge of clinching the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Although idle on Sunday, they saw the Columbus Blue Jackets win against the Washington Capitals, keeping the Blue Jackets in the playoff hunt, now three points behind Montreal.
The Calgary Flames also kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating a fellow wild-card contender. Their win prevented both the Wild and Blues from securing playoff berths and kept Calgary`s slim playoff chances mathematically possible.
Tristan Blackwood