Kyle Connor opened the scoring 6:07 into the first period on the power play, finishing a Gabriel Vilardi feed with a one-timer from the right circle. The goal marked Connor’s 25th of the season, the ninth consecutive year he’s reached that mark.
Oliver Kapanen tied the game 1-1 at 16:26, collecting a rebound off Noah Dobson’s point shot and putting it past Connor Hellebuyck for his 18th of the season.
Josh Anderson gave Montreal its first lead of the night 5:28 into the second period, tipping Jayden Struble’s point shot past Hellebuyck for his 12th of the campaign.
Just over a minute later, the Canadiens made it 3-1 at 6:44 when Lane Hutson took Anderson’s backhand pass in alone and lifted it off the post and over Hellebuyck’s shoulder for the youngster’s 10th.
Brendan Gallagher extended the lead to 4-1 on the power play at 10:57 of the third period. Zach Bolduc’s backhand pass down low found Kirby Dach, who set Gallagher up for a chip-in at the edge of the Jets’ crease.
Phillip Danault capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining, making it 5-1 with his third of the season and effectively putting the game, and any lingering Jets playoff hopes, to bed.
Hellebuyck made 22 saves as Winnipeg fell to 22-26-8. After all games wrapped up Wednesday night, the Jets remain 11 points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Their odds of making the playoffs appear virtually nonexistent heading into the break.