Jets Secure Seventh-Best Lottery Odds, Conclude Season with Lopsided Loss to Sharks
· Yahoo Sports
Thursday night was a meaningless game for the Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks.
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Sure, it was the final test of a disappointing 2025-26 season for both clubs, and it was Fan Appreciation Night at Canada Life Centre.
But it really wasn't much more than that. At least for the Jets.
With both clubs having been eliminated from the playoffs earlier in the week, there was no playoff fight to be had, no 'winner take all' sort of Game 82 that fans had been hoping for just a week prior.
As a matter of fact, one team completely opted to no show up.
The Jets were blown away 6-1 by San Jose, giving up three goals in the second period en route to the lopsided thrashing.
The only piece of good news was that of Winnipeg's race to the bottom for a better placement at the NHL Draft Lottery set to take place on May 5.
Coming into the game, the Jets were two points behind San Jose, but needed to ensure the Sharks earned at least one point to secure the seventh-best odds at the lottery.
They did that, and then some.
Eric Comrie tended the net for Winnipeg, but allowed six goals on the 33 shots he faced.
Cole Koepke scored the opening goal of the game, converting on a nifty breakaway chance on a speedy rush up ice.
But it was all Sharks after that. All Sharks.
Macklin Celebrini set the Sharks point scoring record with his 113th, 114th and 115th points of the season, while Will Smith, William Eklund and John Klingberg also put up multi point efforts in the Sharks' whipping.
With the loss, Winnipeg secured the seventh-best odds at landing the first overall pick in this June's NHL Entry Draft, which will be determined at the draft lottery in May.
In finishing with 82 points, 2025-26 marked the second-worst full season output from the team since relocation. And it happened just one year removed from the league's Presidents' Trophy.
A longer summer than normal will now begin for the Jets' players, coaching/medical staff and front office. The 2026-27 season is set to begin in late-September with a shortened pre-season and an earlier start time and finish.