Jets making push for playoffs with post-Olympics run 

CHICAGO -- The sound coming from the Winnipeg Jets locker room after their 4-3 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday was understandably cheerful and boisterous.

The victory put them – at the time -- one point behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Not bad, considering they were 11 points out of a playoff spot when the NHL resumed play after the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 24. 

As they enter play on Thursday, they are two points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final playoff spot in the West, and one point behind the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators. 

Considering where they were just a few weeks ago, they’ll take it. 

“Disappointing where we found ourselves, but we've talked about all year,” captain Adam Lowry said. “We still have an internal optimism and a belief in this group that when we play the right way, when we have all hands on deck, we're a tough team to beat.”

The Jets (32-30-12), who have won two in row, will try to keep their late-season push for the postseason going when they play the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, TSN3).

“I think we've proved it over the last month. We can beat some of the best teams in the League, and it's just going to take more of that moving forward,” Lowry said.

When the NHL resumed play after the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Jets were 22-26-8, 11 points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second wild card into the postseason. 

It was not where the Jets expected to be after they won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25, going 56-22-4 with 116 points. They also had the reigning League MVP and Vezina Trophy winner in goalie Connor Hellebuyck. 

The Jets, who went to the second round of the playoffs last season, got off to an 11-7-0 start, but Hellebuyck was injured on Nov. 15 and had knee surgery. He didn’t return until Dec. 13, the Jets going 4-8-1 without him, falling out of the playoff picture. Even after he returned, the Jets struggled, going 8-11-7 ahead of the Olympic break. 

But after Hellebuyck made 41 saves for Team USA -- including a miraculous stick save in the 2-1 overtime win against Team Canada in the gold medal game -- the Jets began clicking. That was especially true in March, when they went 9-4-3 (21 points).

So, what’s led to the resurgence?

“I think for a long time, even when we were losing games earlier in the season we felt like we were in a lot of those games. We just weren’t finding ways to get two points,” said forward Jonathan Toews, who is in his first season with the Jets. “We feel we’re clicking better as a team. There are always areas in your game you can improve on. Like right now, our power play’s starting to contribute more. Other than that, we’re getting goal-scoring, we’re getting great (penalty) killing and goaltending’s been great as always. 

“So, it’s nice to be playing really meaningful hockey right now. As a team, we have a lot of confidence that we’re peaking at the right time.”

After allowing 3.09 goals per game prior to the break, they’re allowing 2.83 per game since. They’re also scoring 2.89 goals a game compared to 2.84 goals per game before the break.

They’re also winning more close games. Since the break, the Jets are 6-1-4 in one-goal games. They were 8-11-8 prior to that.

“We’re just playing to our game to our structure, not worrying too much about who the opponent is. Just focus on what we can control and everybody just bringing what makes them great to the individual games,” said forward Kyle Connor, who scored in overtime on Tuesday. “As a whole, you’re here for a reason. Everybody has a specific role and it’s (about) taking pride in that. It’s allowed us to play to everybody’s max potential.”

Four Jets participated in the Olympics in February: forward Nino Niederreiter (Team Switzerland), defenseman Josh Morrissey (Canada), and Connor and Hellebuyck (USA). As for the rest of the Jets, defenseman Dylan DeMelo said the break was, “really big for our group.”

“Just with how demanding the schedule has been physically, but honestly more so mentally. Your brain is going to tell you, ‘you can’t do it’ before your body does. We were in a real tough grind there mentally, like I’m sure a lot of teams were,” he said.

“We were able to attack it fresh. We changed a few things. I feel like that’s been really implemented in our game and we have a little more speed in our game now. I feel like we’re playing more as a five-man unit on the ice, and I feel like we’re getting results because of it.”

It’s been a long road for the Jets. The journey isn’t done yet but if their current play keeps up, the postseason could beckon again.

It won’t be easy. Of their eight remaining games, only three are at home. All eight are against teams either in playoff position or in a dogfight for a spot, including the Stars on Thursday and at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. 

“We just said to take care of our own business and that's what we're trying to do. We’ve got ourselves here, but we can't take our foot off the gas. It doesn't get any easier in going into Dallas and then Columbus, so a lot of heavy lifting still to go,” coach Scott Arniel said. “We have got to make sure that we continue to do those things that keep us in games and that gives us a chance to win.”