Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (97) tries to pass the puck as he's pressured by Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) and goalie Eric Comrie (1) during the third period of their game in Winnipeg on Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade)
The Winnipeg Jets made franchise history on Sunday night by clinching their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points in the NHL regular season. The victory, however, didn’t come through a win on the ice, thanks to a loss by another team.
Although the Jets fell 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers, they still secured the league's top spot after the Washington Capitals suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in the evening. With just two games remaining, the Capitals sit at 109 points and can no longer surpass Winnipeg, who have 114 points with one game to go.
This win places Winnipeg in rare company. The last Canadian team to win the Presidents’ Trophy was the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011-12 season, marking a long-awaited return for Canadian hockey fans.
Fans at the sold-out Canada Life Centre were quick to celebrate the moment. A crowd of 15,225 gave the Jets a thunderous standing ovation as the announcement was made. This marks Winnipeg’s seventh straight sellout game and their 15th this season.
Beyond the trophy, Winnipeg has already locked in the top spot in both the Western Conference and the Central Division—a feat never before achieved in the combined history of the Jets and their predecessor, the Atlanta Thrashers. The Thrashers did claim the Southeast Division back in 2006-07, but this marks a new high point for the franchise.
Despite the historic milestone, Sunday’s match belonged to the Oilers, who extended their winning streak to three games. Edmonton’s Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Corey Perry, and Viktor Arvidsson found the net, with Arvidsson sealing the win with an empty-net goal late in the third period. Stuart Skinner stopped 17 shots in goal for the Oilers.
Alex Iafallo scored the lone goal for Winnipeg during a second-period power play, extending his personal point streak to four games. Backup goalie Eric Comrie had a busy night, making 35 saves in what was his 20th start this season.
The Jets were missing several key players, including Nikolaj Ehlers, who reinjured his foot after colliding with a linesman the previous night. Other healthy scratches included Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey, Adam Lowry, Neal Pionk, and Luke Schenn.
The Oilers, too, faced lineup challenges. They were without defenceman Mattias Ekholm and forward Zach Hyman due to injuries, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was out sick. Despite this, Connor McDavid continued his strong comeback with two assists, giving him nine in three games since returning from injury.
A key moment in the match came when Henrique scored to give Edmonton a 2–1 lead just seconds after a Jets power play expired. Winnipeg was short a stick and a defenceman at the time, leaving them vulnerable.
Though they didn’t win the game, Winnipeg’s season-long consistency earned them a well-deserved Presidents’ Trophy—an achievement that fans will remember for years.
