Thursday, March 30, 2017
Jets Sign D-Man Tucker Poolman to ELC
The Winnipeg Jets have signed NCAA North Dakota defenceman Tucker Poolman to a one-year entry-level contract.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Memories Of 87 Canada Cup
Former Winnipeg Jets great and NHL Hall Of Famer, Dale Hawerchuck reminisces about his time with Team Canada and defeating the Soviet Union at the 1987 Canada Cup, the pre-cursor of today's World Cup Of Hockey.
Laine Scores Shootout Winner Against Devils
In his first game back after an illness that kept him out of the last two games, Patrik Laine returned to be the hero once more by scoring the winning shoot-out goal tonight against the New Jersey Devils in a 4-3 shootout win that was a make-up from originally being postponed March 15.
The Jets should have handled the Devils on this night better than they did. They really should not have had as much trouble handling them as the Devils are in the bottom one-third of the league. Then again, so are the Jets, so...
But, as it was, the Jets came back from a 3-1 deficit after Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring 52 seconds in with his 23rd.
After the Devils scored three straight from Beau Bennett, Taylor Hall and Stefan Noesen, the Jets tied it up in the third on a short-handed goal from Joel Armia (his ninth) just 40 seconds into a Devil's power-play after dancing around two Devil's defenders and letting go a a laser of a wrist shot from the face-off circle.
After nothing was solved in overtime, the two teams went to the shootout, where Patrik Laine scored as the fourth shooter in the first round to end it through the five-hole of Cory Schneider.
Laine remains just one behind Austen Matthews for both the NHL rookie goal-scoring, and points lead. If the NHL allowed players who at least scored the winning goal in a shoot-out to be credited with a goal in their stats, Laine would have at least two extra goals.
And about that. Why doesn't the league allow that? If the game ended 4-3, someone had to have scored the winner. I'm not talking about two or three goals in a shoot-out, just the winner. Makes sense, doesn't it?
The Jets should have handled the Devils on this night better than they did. They really should not have had as much trouble handling them as the Devils are in the bottom one-third of the league. Then again, so are the Jets, so...
But, as it was, the Jets came back from a 3-1 deficit after Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring 52 seconds in with his 23rd.
After the Devils scored three straight from Beau Bennett, Taylor Hall and Stefan Noesen, the Jets tied it up in the third on a short-handed goal from Joel Armia (his ninth) just 40 seconds into a Devil's power-play after dancing around two Devil's defenders and letting go a a laser of a wrist shot from the face-off circle.
After nothing was solved in overtime, the two teams went to the shootout, where Patrik Laine scored as the fourth shooter in the first round to end it through the five-hole of Cory Schneider.
Laine remains just one behind Austen Matthews for both the NHL rookie goal-scoring, and points lead. If the NHL allowed players who at least scored the winning goal in a shoot-out to be credited with a goal in their stats, Laine would have at least two extra goals.
And about that. Why doesn't the league allow that? If the game ended 4-3, someone had to have scored the winner. I'm not talking about two or three goals in a shoot-out, just the winner. Makes sense, doesn't it?
Monday, March 27, 2017
Laine VS Matthews Infinitum
Here's yet another comparison of the top candiddates for the NHL's Calder trophy for rookie of the year. Other than Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, there is no other competition for the top rookie of the year award.
There already has been numerous opinions and experts picking who they think should win the honor, but here's a different take. Someone actually residing in the center of the universe thinks that Patrik Laine should be ahead in the rookie race.
I know, right?
There already has been numerous opinions and experts picking who they think should win the honor, but here's a different take. Someone actually residing in the center of the universe thinks that Patrik Laine should be ahead in the rookie race.
I know, right?
Jets Play Solid Road Game At Home
With just one loss away from being mathematically eliminated from the 2017 NHL playoffs, the Winnipeg Jets played one of those games tonight that really make one scratch one's head. I'm not talking about too many times this year when they made me want to chuck my television out the window because of bonehead plays or stupid penalties, or hey, how about the numerous times they allowed their opponent to score in the last minute? Should I even mention their "own" goals?
No, this time I'm actually talking about the Jets performing well with good fore-checking, puck possession and strong goal-tending. The head-scratching comes into play when you wonder why didn't they play like this for at least 10 or so games that they let get away throughout the year. Yeah, yeah. Every team says that every year. Well, not if you're Chicago, Washington, Anaheim, Pittsburgh or the New York Rangers, but, I digress.
The Laine-less Jets won 2-1 after playing smart hockey with almost no frills like they were away from the MTS Centre. The Finnish phenom has an undisclosed "illness."
The Jets' power-play came alive a bit in this one, as they put two goals behind Canucks net-minder, Ryan Miller with the extra attacker. One scored by Mathieu Perreault on a nice feed from captain Blake Wheeler and the other from Adam Lowry. Mark Scheifele failed to get his thirtieth, which would be a career-high for him; but he did get the second assist on Perreault's goal. Scheifele now has 76 points on the year.
Micheal Hutchinson started in net for the Jets on this night. Other than his mis-step against Los Angeles, Hutch has been strong these last three starts and he's got three wins in his last two starts, plus coming in to save the game against Minnesota last Sunday after starter Connor Hellebuyck gave up three goals in 4:41 and was pulled...again.
But this was all for not as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Arizona Coyotes tonight, officially eliminating the Jets from payoff contention.
No, this time I'm actually talking about the Jets performing well with good fore-checking, puck possession and strong goal-tending. The head-scratching comes into play when you wonder why didn't they play like this for at least 10 or so games that they let get away throughout the year. Yeah, yeah. Every team says that every year. Well, not if you're Chicago, Washington, Anaheim, Pittsburgh or the New York Rangers, but, I digress.
The Laine-less Jets won 2-1 after playing smart hockey with almost no frills like they were away from the MTS Centre. The Finnish phenom has an undisclosed "illness."
The Jets' power-play came alive a bit in this one, as they put two goals behind Canucks net-minder, Ryan Miller with the extra attacker. One scored by Mathieu Perreault on a nice feed from captain Blake Wheeler and the other from Adam Lowry. Mark Scheifele failed to get his thirtieth, which would be a career-high for him; but he did get the second assist on Perreault's goal. Scheifele now has 76 points on the year.
Micheal Hutchinson started in net for the Jets on this night. Other than his mis-step against Los Angeles, Hutch has been strong these last three starts and he's got three wins in his last two starts, plus coming in to save the game against Minnesota last Sunday after starter Connor Hellebuyck gave up three goals in 4:41 and was pulled...again.
But this was all for not as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Arizona Coyotes tonight, officially eliminating the Jets from payoff contention.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Ducks Continue Dominance Over Jets
And on it goes.
The Winnipeg Jets played a decent road game against the Anahiem Ducks, but like ol' times past, the Jets'effort simply wasn't enough (especially against a division-leader) as they fell to Corey Perry and company, 3-1.
Just like every one of their post-season match-ups, the game was close and the teams were seperated by only one goal for most of the contest, until it was wrapped up with an empty-netter.
Joshua Morrissey was the lone scorer for the Jets. It was his sixth.
The loss didn't do much for the Jets already insurmountable climb into the playoffs (let me help you with that one - they aren't going to make it) but it would be nice to get just one "W" against the Foul from Southern Cal. Just one.
Next up are the Los Angeles Kings, and with their chances to make the post-season still up in the air, they are going to be on a mission.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Kings Hang On To Post-Season Hopes After Win Against Jets
Well, this one certainly had potential by the end of the second period, when it was dead-locked at 2-2. But then the Los Angeles Kings remembered that they are in the middle of a playoff hunt and decided to bombard the Jets with three unanswered goals in the third.
It didn't help matters that the Jets allowed the Kings three power-play goals and a short-handed tally in case the they weren't feeling charitable enough already.
Mathieu Perreault got into double digits with his 11th and Patrik Laine ended his goal-scoring slump when he got his 34th on a five-on-three power-play.
Dustin Byfuglien suffered a lower-body injury when he collided with the Kings' Jeff Carter and had to leave the game.
It didn't help matters that the Jets allowed the Kings three power-play goals and a short-handed tally in case the they weren't feeling charitable enough already.
Mathieu Perreault got into double digits with his 11th and Patrik Laine ended his goal-scoring slump when he got his 34th on a five-on-three power-play.
Dustin Byfuglien suffered a lower-body injury when he collided with the Kings' Jeff Carter and had to leave the game.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Jets Down Flyers For Second Three-Game Winning Streak
After only one win in regulation out of the last 12 games played against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Jets satisfyingly defeated the team from the city of brotherly love, 3-2 in a good game played by Winnipeg.
It was also the Jets second three-game consecutive victory this season.
The Flyers opened the scoring in the second period on a goal-mouth-scramble shot by Jordan Weal on a nice feed from whom I think is the most dangerous Flyer, Wayne Simmonds.
Two minutes later, the Jets tied it on a goal by Mathieu Perreault, deflected off of a Blake Wheeler blast from the point.
In the third period, the Jets took the lead off of an actual Blake Wheeler goal; his 22nd goal of the season, which ties Slava Kozlov for fourth for most goals in franchise history with 145.
Patrik Laine who, although still leads all NHL rookies in goals with 33, ,has not scored a goal in five games and is pointless in three, was absolutely robbed by Flyers net-minder, Steve Mason. Laine was shown on the bench afterwards, clearly frustrated, slamming the shaft of his stick against the boards.
Mark Scheifele tied his career-high for goals scored with 29, when he roofed a sweet wrist-shot on a feed from Wheeler. Both players had a three-point night.
Micheal Hutchinson started in goal for the Jets, deservedly so, since he shutout the Minnesota Wild with his time on the ice Sunday afternoon, taking over for yet another pulled Connor Hellebuyck and hasn't had much of a chance to prove himself. Hutch had himself a good game and will almost certainly start the next game against the Kings. He proved he belonged in net tonight, after he returned the favor to Mason and robbed Simmonds with an awesome glove save off of a sure-thing of a blast from the right side.
Rookie defenseman, Nelson Nogier was held pointless with 12:16 total ice-time.e
It was also the Jets second three-game consecutive victory this season.
The Flyers opened the scoring in the second period on a goal-mouth-scramble shot by Jordan Weal on a nice feed from whom I think is the most dangerous Flyer, Wayne Simmonds.
Two minutes later, the Jets tied it on a goal by Mathieu Perreault, deflected off of a Blake Wheeler blast from the point.
In the third period, the Jets took the lead off of an actual Blake Wheeler goal; his 22nd goal of the season, which ties Slava Kozlov for fourth for most goals in franchise history with 145.
Patrik Laine who, although still leads all NHL rookies in goals with 33, ,has not scored a goal in five games and is pointless in three, was absolutely robbed by Flyers net-minder, Steve Mason. Laine was shown on the bench afterwards, clearly frustrated, slamming the shaft of his stick against the boards.
Mark Scheifele tied his career-high for goals scored with 29, when he roofed a sweet wrist-shot on a feed from Wheeler. Both players had a three-point night.
Micheal Hutchinson started in goal for the Jets, deservedly so, since he shutout the Minnesota Wild with his time on the ice Sunday afternoon, taking over for yet another pulled Connor Hellebuyck and hasn't had much of a chance to prove himself. Hutch had himself a good game and will almost certainly start the next game against the Kings. He proved he belonged in net tonight, after he returned the favor to Mason and robbed Simmonds with an awesome glove save off of a sure-thing of a blast from the right side.
Rookie defenseman, Nelson Nogier was held pointless with 12:16 total ice-time.e
Rookie Nogier To Make Debut With Jets Tonight
Called up from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, Nogier will stand on the blue line for the Jets due to their depleted defense core with Tyler Myers and Toby Enstrom both out for the season.
In his 57 games with the Moose this season, Nogier has amassed two goals and 11 assists for 13 points.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Yet Another Laine/Matthews Comparison
Here is yet one more article from those at NHL.com - who you know where their loyalties lie - comparing the chances of who will win the Calder trophy this year.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Jets Survive Comeback Against Wild
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| The Jets' Adam Lowry (#17) scores in the first period with an assist from Mathieu Perreault (#85) |
With a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, and a 4-0 early in the second, the Winnipeg Jets - wearing their white, Hertiage Classic uniforms for the last time this season-looked like they might cruise to a rare, but easy victory against the Minnesota Wild; especially since the Jets had scored those four goals on their first eight shots on Wild net-minder, Devin Dubnyk.
But the Wild were not about to roll over, and they came back to within one goal in the third period to give the home-side a scare. But the Jets managed to hold on, thanks to back-up goalie, Michael Hutchinson coming in relief and settling things down after starter Connor Hellebuyck allowed four unanswered goals by the Wild to tie the game. Defenseman Joshua Morrissey saved the afternoon for the Jets when he scored his fifth of the season with just under eight minutes left in regulation time.
Dustin Byfuglien collected his 12th of the season on a beautiful top-corner backhand, Ben Chariot got his second of the season on an assist from Bryan Little, while Andrew Copp opened the scoring with his ninth at 3:47.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Jets Drop Islanders, Matthias Out For Season
In a game, much like the rest of the season, barring any miracles, the Jets earned a useless two points against the New York Islanders on Thursday night, 4-2.
The only real highlight to this game was Bryan Little scoring his 19th and 20th goals of the season, which gives the Jets at least five players with 20 or more goals.
Not much to report on this one, except that Shawn Matthias has decided to undergo shoulder surgery for an on-going problem. Coach Paul Maurice said it is a re-hab and will take months for Matthias to return.
The only real highlight to this game was Bryan Little scoring his 19th and 20th goals of the season, which gives the Jets at least five players with 20 or more goals.
Not much to report on this one, except that Shawn Matthias has decided to undergo shoulder surgery for an on-going problem. Coach Paul Maurice said it is a re-hab and will take months for Matthias to return.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Tonight's Game Versus Devils Postponed Due To Weather
Due to a blizzard ravaging the U.S. east coast, tonight's game against the New Jersey Devils has been postponed by the league until March 28.
Jets Extend Losing Skid Against Predators
The Winnipeg Jets continue to find new ways to lose and new ways to disappoint their already frustrated fan-base.
After dropping a 3-0 decision to the Calgary Flames on Saturday night...
...they promptly responded by losing to the Nashville Predators on Monday 5-4 in overtime. So, they captured, what amounts to be, a useless point. They now sit with 67 points and sit fifth in the Central division. By now, it's pretty useless to inform anyone where they sit in the wild-card race. Suffice to say, the Jets need a miracle.
The Jets were without Jacob Trouba, as he is suffered from an upper-body injury against the Flames. The only bright spot was Patrik Laine recording his 33rd goal of the season, just two goals back of the league leader, Sidney Crosby who has 35. Nikolaj Ehlers added his 33rd and 34th assists, and Mark Scheifele got his 41st assist, which gives him 69 points on the year, just six points shy of the league lead held by the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid.
After dropping a 3-0 decision to the Calgary Flames on Saturday night...
...they promptly responded by losing to the Nashville Predators on Monday 5-4 in overtime. So, they captured, what amounts to be, a useless point. They now sit with 67 points and sit fifth in the Central division. By now, it's pretty useless to inform anyone where they sit in the wild-card race. Suffice to say, the Jets need a miracle.
The Jets were without Jacob Trouba, as he is suffered from an upper-body injury against the Flames. The only bright spot was Patrik Laine recording his 33rd goal of the season, just two goals back of the league leader, Sidney Crosby who has 35. Nikolaj Ehlers added his 33rd and 34th assists, and Mark Scheifele got his 41st assist, which gives him 69 points on the year, just six points shy of the league lead held by the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid.
Friday, March 10, 2017
Enstrom Out Indefintely
Winnipeg Jets defenseman, Toby Enstrom will be out indefinitely after suffering a lower-body injury at the hands of Pittsburgh Penguins Tom Sestito on Wednesday night when Enstom was illegally hit from behind by a vicious cross-check.
Sestito has been suspended four games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Penguins Devour Jets
It started out well. The Jets opened the scoring on a goal by Shawn Matthias, his eighth, but the Penguins answered right back on a goal by Nick Bonino. That would be the first of three tonight for Bonino.
By the end of the first period, it appeared that the Jets were going to hold their own against the defending Stanley Cup champions, as they built a surprising 3-2 lead.
But as has happened way too many times this season, the ol' second period monster reared its ugly head and the Penguins put three unanswered goals by Connor Hellebuyck before he was pulled in favour of Michael Hutchinson after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Hutch fared a little better, but not much, as he allowed two goals on 17 shots. The Pens stopped the massacre at 7-4.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Dustin Byfuglien rounded out the scoring for the Jets with their 22nd and 10th, respectively; and Marko Dano got his fourth goal of the season, when he tallied a late one at 18:45 of the third period. As it has been for many, many games for the Winnipeg Jets this tumultuous season, too little, too late.
So now the Jets remain seven huge points behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card spot. At this point, does it really matter what place they're in, in the division? The Los Angeles Kings also sit two points ahead of the Jets for the number two spot.
The stats say they're done, the experts say they're done, I say they're done, but stranger things have happened, I guess.
No. No they haven't.
By the end of the first period, it appeared that the Jets were going to hold their own against the defending Stanley Cup champions, as they built a surprising 3-2 lead.
But as has happened way too many times this season, the ol' second period monster reared its ugly head and the Penguins put three unanswered goals by Connor Hellebuyck before he was pulled in favour of Michael Hutchinson after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Hutch fared a little better, but not much, as he allowed two goals on 17 shots. The Pens stopped the massacre at 7-4.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Dustin Byfuglien rounded out the scoring for the Jets with their 22nd and 10th, respectively; and Marko Dano got his fourth goal of the season, when he tallied a late one at 18:45 of the third period. As it has been for many, many games for the Winnipeg Jets this tumultuous season, too little, too late.
So now the Jets remain seven huge points behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card spot. At this point, does it really matter what place they're in, in the division? The Los Angeles Kings also sit two points ahead of the Jets for the number two spot.
The stats say they're done, the experts say they're done, I say they're done, but stranger things have happened, I guess.
No. No they haven't.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Jets Not Enough Against Sharks
WOO HOO! Another three-game winning str-oh, no. Wait. They lost? Ah crap.
Yes, as much as I would have love to write that the Winnipeg Jets were able to maintain their recent defensive acumen, alas, I can't. Even though the Jets once again were able to stick with one of the league's elite teams and hold them under four goals, it wasn't to be, as the San Jose Sharks defeated a competitive Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre last night, 3-2.
The upswing is, the Jets are playing some of their best hockey of the season, the downside is, it's a little too late. With highly competitive games, with an almost smothering defense, against the likes of Montreal, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Colorado, the Jets looked like (and may still with a minor miracle) they are serious about a post-season run. Losing two huge points tonight obviously doesn't help, but a few wins like they've had over the last two weeks or so and who knows?
Josh Morrissey got his sixth of the season to open the scoring for the Jets, and Mark Scheifele notched his 28th.
The Sharks Joe Thornton got his 1,000th career assist on Joe Pavelski's empty-net goal, putting him fourth all-time behind Joe Sakic.
The Jets remain at 66 points, three behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card spot. It's an uphill battle, especially if St. Louis and Los Angeles keep winning; which they are sure to do. So, the Jets must also. I know I've stated they're already done (based on their place in the standings, games remaining, and past performances) but stranger things have happened. The Jets have the team to do it, they just have to believe they can.
Yes, as much as I would have love to write that the Winnipeg Jets were able to maintain their recent defensive acumen, alas, I can't. Even though the Jets once again were able to stick with one of the league's elite teams and hold them under four goals, it wasn't to be, as the San Jose Sharks defeated a competitive Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre last night, 3-2.
The upswing is, the Jets are playing some of their best hockey of the season, the downside is, it's a little too late. With highly competitive games, with an almost smothering defense, against the likes of Montreal, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Colorado, the Jets looked like (and may still with a minor miracle) they are serious about a post-season run. Losing two huge points tonight obviously doesn't help, but a few wins like they've had over the last two weeks or so and who knows?
Josh Morrissey got his sixth of the season to open the scoring for the Jets, and Mark Scheifele notched his 28th.
The Sharks Joe Thornton got his 1,000th career assist on Joe Pavelski's empty-net goal, putting him fourth all-time behind Joe Sakic.
The Jets remain at 66 points, three behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card spot. It's an uphill battle, especially if St. Louis and Los Angeles keep winning; which they are sure to do. So, the Jets must also. I know I've stated they're already done (based on their place in the standings, games remaining, and past performances) but stranger things have happened. The Jets have the team to do it, they just have to believe they can.
Monday, March 6, 2017
TSN's "The Reporters" Say Matthews Will Win Calder
Surprise, surprise! The guys who live and breathe everything Toronto say Austen Matthews is going to win the NHL's Calder trophy for the rookie of the year. "He's a better player," "he's more valuable to his team," bla, bla, bla. They totally ignore the fact that Patrik Laine leads Matthews in almost every statistical category, and pretty much has from the start of the season. Matthews scored four goals in his first NHL game, but then Laine exploded with his first hat-trick, including the game winner in overtime.
Actually, NHL.com has already answered that question. "If Laine scores 10 more goals than Matthews, wins the Rocket Richard trophy as the NHL's top goal scorer and cures cancer, he would have a 50-50 chance if winning the Calder." It may be a "joke" circulating social media, but with most of the hockey media based in Toronto, it pretty much sums up the bias towards Matthews.
Never mind facts and statistics, just rely on who your favourite is.
Head to Head comparison
(Games through March 5)
Matthews
Games: 64
G-A-Pts: 31-24-55
Shots on goal: 227
Avg. ice time: 17:48
SAT%: 51.68
Hits: 15
*Goals created per game: 0.37
SAT: plus-63
Points per 60 minutes (all situations): 2.90
Laine
Games: 58
G-A-Pts: 32-26-58
Shots on goal: 160
Avg. ice time: 18:05
SAT%: 48.02
Hits: 63
*Goals created per game: 0.42
SAT: minus-57
Points per 60 minutes (all situations): 3.32
*Hockey reference dot com
What happens if Laine is able to surpass Sidney Crosby for most goals and wins the Maurice Richard trophy, will the experts still claim Matthews deserves rookie of the year?Actually, NHL.com has already answered that question. "If Laine scores 10 more goals than Matthews, wins the Rocket Richard trophy as the NHL's top goal scorer and cures cancer, he would have a 50-50 chance if winning the Calder." It may be a "joke" circulating social media, but with most of the hockey media based in Toronto, it pretty much sums up the bias towards Matthews.
Never mind facts and statistics, just rely on who your favourite is.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Jets Pummel Avalanche
It's not even halfway through the second period in the contest between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets, and it's already 5-0 Jets. As the CBC commentators said, "the Avalanche are being taken to the woodshed." Five different Jets have scored so far.
Almost midway through the third period, and the Avalanche have registered just 11 shots on goal.
Well. It's over and the Jets have a 6-1 win. Two huge points that place the Jets just two points out of the second wild card spot as they creep up a bit to fourth in the Central division.
How'd you like my interspersed "live" updates?
The Jets owned the Avalanche from the opening face-off. It wasn't exactly a clinic, as the Jets weren't there to teach the Avs anything, but there was hickory-switchin' going on, that's for sure.
Patrik Laine opened the scoring with his 32nd with a blast from the slot that was deflected in by an Avalanche defender, putting him ahead of Austen Matthews for the rookie goal-scoring lead, while climbing to second in the overall NHL lead, behind only Sidney Crosby with 34. The Calder and the Rocket Richard trophies? Okay!
Blake Wheeler joined the 20-goal club as he notched a nice top-corner snipe on the power-play, while Mark Schiefele got his 27th on a nice feed from Laine just 15 seconds after Wheeler scored. Ehlers got his 21st from Wheeler on a nice give and go.
The Jets now have four skaters with 20 or more goals.
Ben Chariot got his very due first of the season (how many of his blasts from the point have been deflected in by someone else, I'll never know) and Jacob Trouba rounded things out by scoring his 6th when he got his own rebound off the end glass.
The win puts the Jets back at .500 for the first time in a while. I also noticed that their goal differential has dropped dramatically as well to a -8.
Connor Hellebuyck was just fifteen seconds from a shut-out. A shot from the line in the dying seconds by Gabriel Landeskog dropped on Helle in front and caught him going the other way. So not fair. He played very well, although it was the Jets defense that once again has stymied the opposition, Helle earned shutouts back-to-back.
One of the weirdest plays of the year was displayed last night, as the Avs Blake Comeau was in all alone on Hellebuyck, when he, for some odd reason, tried to pass it back to Nathan MacKinnon only to be intercepted and cleared by a back-checking Patrik Laine.
Good win. Let's hope a miracle happens and the Jets keep winning, while the Kings, Blues and Stars all keep losing. Yeah. All three of those teams will falter, and the Jets will go on a winning streak. Meh. Sure. Why Not?
Almost midway through the third period, and the Avalanche have registered just 11 shots on goal.
Well. It's over and the Jets have a 6-1 win. Two huge points that place the Jets just two points out of the second wild card spot as they creep up a bit to fourth in the Central division.
How'd you like my interspersed "live" updates?
The Jets owned the Avalanche from the opening face-off. It wasn't exactly a clinic, as the Jets weren't there to teach the Avs anything, but there was hickory-switchin' going on, that's for sure.
Patrik Laine opened the scoring with his 32nd with a blast from the slot that was deflected in by an Avalanche defender, putting him ahead of Austen Matthews for the rookie goal-scoring lead, while climbing to second in the overall NHL lead, behind only Sidney Crosby with 34. The Calder and the Rocket Richard trophies? Okay!
Blake Wheeler joined the 20-goal club as he notched a nice top-corner snipe on the power-play, while Mark Schiefele got his 27th on a nice feed from Laine just 15 seconds after Wheeler scored. Ehlers got his 21st from Wheeler on a nice give and go.
The Jets now have four skaters with 20 or more goals.
Ben Chariot got his very due first of the season (how many of his blasts from the point have been deflected in by someone else, I'll never know) and Jacob Trouba rounded things out by scoring his 6th when he got his own rebound off the end glass.
The win puts the Jets back at .500 for the first time in a while. I also noticed that their goal differential has dropped dramatically as well to a -8.
Connor Hellebuyck was just fifteen seconds from a shut-out. A shot from the line in the dying seconds by Gabriel Landeskog dropped on Helle in front and caught him going the other way. So not fair. He played very well, although it was the Jets defense that once again has stymied the opposition, Helle earned shutouts back-to-back.
One of the weirdest plays of the year was displayed last night, as the Avs Blake Comeau was in all alone on Hellebuyck, when he, for some odd reason, tried to pass it back to Nathan MacKinnon only to be intercepted and cleared by a back-checking Patrik Laine.
Good win. Let's hope a miracle happens and the Jets keep winning, while the Kings, Blues and Stars all keep losing. Yeah. All three of those teams will falter, and the Jets will go on a winning streak. Meh. Sure. Why Not?
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Teemu Selanne: NHL Best 100
Although the first superstar of the Jets 1.0 era (of National Hockey League fame) Dale Hawerchuck was snubbed from the NHL's Centennial Top 100 despite being the youngest player to reach 100 points until Sidney Crosby came along, missing the rookie points record by three points in his rookie year of 1981-82, and scoring at least 100 points seven out of his first eight seasons. He endd his career, playing for four different clubs with 1188 games played in which he scored 518 goals and 891 assists for 1409 points. He averaged a point a game in his career. He presently sits 19th all-time on the NHL scoring list, but yet, no place in the NHL top 100.
However, one former Jet that they couldn't ignore, even though it turned out he played a heavy majority of his career in Anaheim, is Teemu Selanne. Selanne is a first-ballot hall-of-famer, he holds the rookie goal-scoring and points record, scoring an inconceivable 76 goals and 132 points in the 1992-93 season as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. He is the current all-time Olympic points leader with 105. He, along with Joe Sakic, was named to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame last month
He was traded by the new owners of the Jets in 1996, just after the sale of the team to know-nothing owners, Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke (they wanted to save money on contract salaries, so they demanded former Jets general manager John Paddock trade Selanne instead of Kieth Tkachuck or Alexei Zhamnov before the team the team moved to Phoenix, Arizona.)
He won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. He earned it. He should have won with the Jets if the hockey gods made it fair to Winnipeg fans - they didn't. But Selanne got what a player of his talent and personal calibre deserve. Accolades, a championship, respect, and soon to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
For this, Selanne will always be a Jet. Anaheim may have had the opportunity to witness his brilliance for the better part of 16 years, but Winnipeg will always see him as one of their own.
However, one former Jet that they couldn't ignore, even though it turned out he played a heavy majority of his career in Anaheim, is Teemu Selanne. Selanne is a first-ballot hall-of-famer, he holds the rookie goal-scoring and points record, scoring an inconceivable 76 goals and 132 points in the 1992-93 season as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. He is the current all-time Olympic points leader with 105. He, along with Joe Sakic, was named to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame last month
He was traded by the new owners of the Jets in 1996, just after the sale of the team to know-nothing owners, Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke (they wanted to save money on contract salaries, so they demanded former Jets general manager John Paddock trade Selanne instead of Kieth Tkachuck or Alexei Zhamnov before the team the team moved to Phoenix, Arizona.)
He won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. He earned it. He should have won with the Jets if the hockey gods made it fair to Winnipeg fans - they didn't. But Selanne got what a player of his talent and personal calibre deserve. Accolades, a championship, respect, and soon to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
For this, Selanne will always be a Jet. Anaheim may have had the opportunity to witness his brilliance for the better part of 16 years, but Winnipeg will always see him as one of their own.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Jets Back In Form With Shutout Over Blues
The Winnipeg Jets got back into the win column and kept their slim playoff hopes alive by playing a complete game against the St. Louis Blues and helping Connor Hellebuyck win his fourth shutout of the season and seventh of his career, 3-0 tonight.
The win by the Jets extends the Blues losing streak to five.
It should have been a blow-out by the Jets, but Blues goalie, Carter Hutton came up huge more times than I cared to see. Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp, Shawn Matthias, Bryan Little, Blake Wheeler-all denied by the Blues back-up.
Captain Blake Wheeler notched two tonight, including the game-winner, which happened to be the only goal of the game (and his 18th of the season) until the Jets had the game in the bag late in the third and put in two back-to-back empty-netters; the first by Bryan Little (his 18th) after showing some hustle by catching up to and stealing the puck from Alex Pietrangelo before tucking it behind the gal line, then Wheeler chipped in his second of the game.
Every player in a blue sweater contributed to the victory tonight. Even though one would usually say, "the score doesn't tell the whole story," this score actually did. Although Hutton gave the Blues a chance early and often, the Jets outplayed the Blues and were "owed" a couple of scores because of the back-stopper; so, yeah, 3-0 (empty-netters or not) sounds good to me.
Everyone seemed to had a legitimate chance to score as blasts were coming from Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba (back from his two-game suspension), Mathieu Perreault, Josh Morrissey, Patrik Laine, who was fed twice by Mark Scheifele in vein, and even Chris Thorburn had a chance in front of the net, but all the boys needed was the captain's one-timer, power-play goal, from the blue-line and to then shut it down; which they did, admirably.
The Blues had some moderate success in the neutral zone, but overall, the Jets smothered the lanes and suffocated the them. Protected by a staunch and determined Jets defence-core, the Blues were stymied all evening.
After losing a heart-breaking, yet expected 6-5 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, the Jets needed to pull themselves up and hope to move on and make the rest of the season count for something.
I was worried about this one. I was worried that after such a long lay-off of seven days, any momentum would be lost.
Well, the Jets didn't exactly lose the ability to play well, they just waited until the third period.
Although Laine scored his 31st, to remain tied with Austen Matthews for the NHL rookie goal-scoring lead, he could not work his magic, nor could Scheifele, to give a late-game miracle to the people behind the glass.
But, the Jets come away victorious yet again against St. Louis and are now 4-0 against the Blues this season. The Jets now retain 64 points and are, remarkably, only four points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference that`s currently held by the Los Angeles Kings, who have 68 points. Forget the Flames and their 74 points. They`re on a six-game winning streak (oh, how I pray for the Jets to go on a five-to-eight game winning streak) and are probably going to take a Pacific divisional spot in their top three. They're gone. In which case we then have to focus on Nashville as well as St. Louis and L.A. The Jets pretty much have to achieve the impossible and go on a streak around the 14-4 (or 13-3-1 or whatever) mark. The other teams could folly. Its possible, and I'm hoping, ney, counting on it.
If Nashville stumbles and St. Louis continues to disappoint, while Dallas can be kept at bay, the Jets could slip on the Cinderella slipper for this post-season. But they have to beat some better, much better, teams coming up. They have to. We're coming down the stretch.
It's a steep, steep hill. Can the Jets sustain?
Colorado is next. Then San Jose and Pittsburgh. Some of that home-ice advantage would be cool right about now, 'doncha think?
The win by the Jets extends the Blues losing streak to five.
It should have been a blow-out by the Jets, but Blues goalie, Carter Hutton came up huge more times than I cared to see. Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp, Shawn Matthias, Bryan Little, Blake Wheeler-all denied by the Blues back-up.
Captain Blake Wheeler notched two tonight, including the game-winner, which happened to be the only goal of the game (and his 18th of the season) until the Jets had the game in the bag late in the third and put in two back-to-back empty-netters; the first by Bryan Little (his 18th) after showing some hustle by catching up to and stealing the puck from Alex Pietrangelo before tucking it behind the gal line, then Wheeler chipped in his second of the game.
Every player in a blue sweater contributed to the victory tonight. Even though one would usually say, "the score doesn't tell the whole story," this score actually did. Although Hutton gave the Blues a chance early and often, the Jets outplayed the Blues and were "owed" a couple of scores because of the back-stopper; so, yeah, 3-0 (empty-netters or not) sounds good to me.
Everyone seemed to had a legitimate chance to score as blasts were coming from Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba (back from his two-game suspension), Mathieu Perreault, Josh Morrissey, Patrik Laine, who was fed twice by Mark Scheifele in vein, and even Chris Thorburn had a chance in front of the net, but all the boys needed was the captain's one-timer, power-play goal, from the blue-line and to then shut it down; which they did, admirably.
The Blues had some moderate success in the neutral zone, but overall, the Jets smothered the lanes and suffocated the them. Protected by a staunch and determined Jets defence-core, the Blues were stymied all evening.
After losing a heart-breaking, yet expected 6-5 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, the Jets needed to pull themselves up and hope to move on and make the rest of the season count for something.
I was worried about this one. I was worried that after such a long lay-off of seven days, any momentum would be lost.
Well, the Jets didn't exactly lose the ability to play well, they just waited until the third period.
Although Laine scored his 31st, to remain tied with Austen Matthews for the NHL rookie goal-scoring lead, he could not work his magic, nor could Scheifele, to give a late-game miracle to the people behind the glass.
But, the Jets come away victorious yet again against St. Louis and are now 4-0 against the Blues this season. The Jets now retain 64 points and are, remarkably, only four points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference that`s currently held by the Los Angeles Kings, who have 68 points. Forget the Flames and their 74 points. They`re on a six-game winning streak (oh, how I pray for the Jets to go on a five-to-eight game winning streak) and are probably going to take a Pacific divisional spot in their top three. They're gone. In which case we then have to focus on Nashville as well as St. Louis and L.A. The Jets pretty much have to achieve the impossible and go on a streak around the 14-4 (or 13-3-1 or whatever) mark. The other teams could folly. Its possible, and I'm hoping, ney, counting on it.
If Nashville stumbles and St. Louis continues to disappoint, while Dallas can be kept at bay, the Jets could slip on the Cinderella slipper for this post-season. But they have to beat some better, much better, teams coming up. They have to. We're coming down the stretch.
It's a steep, steep hill. Can the Jets sustain?
Colorado is next. Then San Jose and Pittsburgh. Some of that home-ice advantage would be cool right about now, 'doncha think?
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Stafford Traded
Drew Stafford, who came over in the Evander Kane deal and helped to launch the Winnipeg Jets into the 2014-2015 NHL playoffs, has been dealt to the Boston Bruins for a draft pick.Stafford played 144 games in a Jets uniform since coming over with Tyler Myers, Joel Armia and prospect, Brendan Lemieux for Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian back in 2015. He accumulated 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points.
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