WINNIPEG, Manitoba — A season of visible progress for the Ducks ended with an overtime loss to the team that set the bar for the entire NHL this season.
Mark Scheifele scored at 1:11 of overtime to give the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets a 2-1 victory over the Ducks on Wednesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Jets finished at 56-22-4 to set a franchise record with 116 points.
Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for Winnipeg in his 47th victory, the most in franchise history, and the Jets wrapped up the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals against. Hellebuyck began the night second in the league in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.924).
Ville Husso stopped 42 shots for the Ducks, who ended the season on a four-game losing streak (0-2-2) but finished 35-37-10 (80 points) for a 21-point improvement on their 2023-24 showing.
Josh Morrissey made a great defensive play to break up a 2-on-1 in overtime, then raced down the ice with Scheifele and Kyle Connor. After Connor’s shot just missed the net, he retrieved the puck, passed to Morrisey, who sent it to Scheifele.
The Jets took a 1-0 lead at 13:49 of the second period.
Winnipeg center Vladislav Namestnikov won a faceoff against Ducks rookie Tim Washe, who was playing in his second NHL game since helping Western Michigan win the NCAA title on Saturday.
The puck went back to Neal Pionk at the left point, and he brought the puck toward the middle before firing a slap shot into the top left corner for his 10th goal of the season.
The Ducks spoiled Hellebuyck’s chance at his ninth shutout of the season when Terry tied it 1-1 at 5:45 of the third period.
Frank Vatrano took a slap shot that Hellebuyck was unable to glove. The puck fell to the side of Hellebuyck, where Terry was in position to shoot it into the net. The Ducks’ Ian Moore, playing in his third NHL game, tipped the puck before it went off Hellebuyck’s glove, giving him an assist for his first NHL point.
Terry beat the Jets, 4-3, with an overtime goal on Jan. 2.
Husso made 19 saves in the scoreless first period, a frame that included the Ducks holding the Jets without a shot on goal for 58 seconds when the hosts had a two-man advantage.
Neal Pionk opened the scoring for Winnipeg with 6:11 left in the second period, his screened shot from the point beating Husso.
Troy Terry tied it for the Ducks at 5:45 of the third. He pounced on a rebound and slid the puck into the open side of the net.
Winnipeg will face the St. Louis Blues in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series beginning Saturday at 3 p.m. PT.