Laurent Brossoit exits Game 3, Jets' 3-0 win keeps Stars from winning Central Division

Laurent Brossoit stopped 24 shots for his third straight shutout, David Gustafsson scored on his 24th birthday and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Thursday night.

The Jets won their fifth straight game after a six-game winless streak and kept the Stars from winning the Central Division title.

Instead, Winnipeg avoided a season sweep by Dallas and finished second to Colorado with 104 points, five behind the Stars.

Dallas has two games left, while the Jets and Avalanche have three. Winnipeg won a tiebreaker against Colorado to take a 2-0 season series lead into Saturday's final meeting in Denver.

At the end of the first period, Nikolay Ehlers scored the 24th goal and opened the scoring. Gustafsson scored midway through the second period. Mark Scheifele added his 25th shutout.

The Stars, who finished second in the NHL in points, were shut out for the third time this season and first since a 4-0 loss at Tampa Bay on Dec. 4. It was Dallas' first shutout at home.

Dallas is undefeated in the President's Cup race for the best record in the NHL. The New York Rangers lost at home to Philadelphia to finish one point ahead of the Stars with 110 points. The Rangers also have two games to play.

Connor Hellebuyck's backup Brossoit made some tense saves and got a break in the second period when a deflected shot hit the post and fell under the 31-year-old traveller.

Brossoit's first two shutouts of the season came a week apart in March. His sixth career shutout came in his first attempt in 10 days. Brossoit is 7-1 in his last eight starts dating back to Feb. 20.

NEXT UP

Jets: Winnipeg won at Colorado on Dec. 7 and beat the Avs again at home nine days later.

Stars: Seattle at home Saturday.