Jets get huge OT win over 'Canes to keep pace in playoff hunt

The Jets currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, right behind the eighth place Rangers.

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Dustin Byfuglien scored 1:23 into overtime and the Winnipeg Jets continued their hunt for a playoff berth with their season-high fifth straight win, 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.

Byfuglien beat Justin Peters off a rebound from a shot by Andrew Ladd, who finished with three assists.

Alexander Semin tied it 3-3 with 1:12 left in regulation with Peters on the bench for an extra attacker, beating Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec on the glove side.

Blake Wheeler had a goal and two assists, and Zach Bogosian and Paul Postma also scored for the Jets, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference but moved within two points of the Southeast Division-leading Washington Capitals.

Washington, which lost 3-1 to Ottawa, has 50 points. The Jets and New York Rangers are tied with 48, but the Rangers have played one fewer game. New York beat Florida 6-1 on Thursday night.

Tuomo Ruutu scored a pair of goals and Jordan Staal had two assists for Carolina.

Pavelec made 24 stops, including a spectacular one in the second period that sparked a standing ovation. Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk fired a wrist shot from close in but Pavelec whipped out his stick to get a piece of the puck before smothering it.