Jets 5, Canadiens 2: Jim Slater and Mark Scheifele each recorded a goal and an assist as host Winnipeg thwarted Montreal's opportunity to clinch a postseason berth.

Dustin Byfuglien, Blake Wheeler and Adam Lowry also scored for the Jets, who moved three points ahead of Calgary for the second wild card in the Western Conference and climbed within one of Minnesota for the first spot. Ondrej Pavelec made 39 saves en route to his sixth straight win as Winnipeg posted its seventh victory in 10 contests.

Brendan Gallagher extended his goal-scoring streak to four games and defenseman Andrei Markov also tallied for the Canadiens, who remained one point ahead of second-place Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division. Dustin Tokarski turned aside 17 shots as Montreal (100 points) dropped from first place into a tie for third in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.

Byfuglien returned from injury to open the scoring with 7:27 remaining in the first period, one-timing a drop pass by Slater past Tokarski from the top of the right faceoff circle. Scheifele converted a feed from defenseman Tyler Myers while alone in front 6:05 into the second to double the lead, but Markov's wrist shot from the blue line beat a screened Pavelec 41 seconds later to halve Montreal's deficit.

Winnipeg regained its two-goal advantage at 9:13, when the rebound of Lee Stempniak's deflection went off the right skate of Slater and past Tokarski. Wheeler made it 4-1 with exactly one minute left in the session, when he beat the netminder from the left circle after receiving a cross-slot pass from Scheifele during a 2-on-1 rush.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gallagher drew Montreal within two with a one-timer from the right hash marks at 11:37 of the third period, but Lowry answered 45 seconds later to seal the win. ...Winnipeg was outshot 20-5 in the first period but emerged with a 1-0 lead. ... Byfuglien was back in the lineup after missing nine games with an upper-body injury, but C Bryan Little sat out his 10th consecutive contest - also with an upper-body ailment. ... Jets RW Drew Stafford notched an assist on Wheeler's goal to extend his point streak to eight games. He has collected four goals and six assists during the run. ... Referee Tim Peel worked his 1,000th NHL game.