2017–18 Winnipeg Jets season
The 2017–18 Winnipeg Jets season was the 19th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997, and the seventh in Winnipeg, since the franchise relocated from Atlanta prior to the start of the 2011–12 NHL season. The Jets clinched their second playoff spot since relocating from Atlanta after beating the Nashville Predators 5–4 in a shootout on March 25, 2018. The Jets finished the season with 114 points, the second-best record in the NHL. Both are the best-ever finishes for both the Thrashers/Jets franchise and any Winnipeg-based NHL team.
| 2017–18 Winnipeg Jets | |
|---|---|
| Division | 2nd Central |
| Conference | 2nd Western |
| 2017–18 record | 52–20–10 |
| Home record | 32–7–2 |
| Road record | 20–13–8 |
| Goals for | 277 |
| Goals against | 218 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Kevin Cheveldayoff |
| Coach | Paul Maurice |
| Captain | Blake Wheeler |
| Alternate captains | Dustin Byfuglien Mark Scheifele |
| Arena | Bell MTS Place |
| Average attendance | 15,321 |
| Minor league affiliate(s) | Manitoba Moose (AHL) Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Patrik Laine (44) |
| Assists | Blake Wheeler (68) |
| Points | Blake Wheeler (91) |
| Penalty minutes | Dustin Byfuglien (112) |
| Plus/minus | Mark Scheifele (+19) |
| Wins | Connor Hellebuyck (44) |
| Goals against average | Connor Hellebuyck (2.36) |
On April 11, 2018, the Jets won their first playoff game in franchise history when they defeated the Minnesota Wild 3–2 ending an 8-game playoff losing streak. On April 20, 2018, the team won its first playoff series when they defeated the Wild 5–0 and advanced to the Second Round. They then took the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators to seven games to advance to the Western Conference Final – the deepest playoff run for a Winnipeg-based NHL team. The original Jets only got as far as the second round during their run in Winnipeg, in 1985 and 1987. Their season would come to an end during the Western Conference Final where they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.