Jets look to keep momentum going

The Winnipeg Jets face the New Jersey Devils tonight in 5th game of their current season long seven game road trip. Both teams are dealing with early season injuries. The Jets 3-1 over their last 4 games will be looking to improve their record to above five-hundred for the first time this season.

The absence of Devils sniper Ilya Kovalchuk will put pressure on Patrik Elias and Zach Parise to try and beat Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec. Pavelec has been unbelievable since the 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Look for the Jets to continue the hot streak and put 3 or 4 goals past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. Winnipeg has to be careful not to lean on the strong play of Pavelec too much. If they do, this game could get out of control quickly.

Jets 4-2

Thin blue-line

The Winnipeg Jets blue-line is facing injury issues. The chance for increased ice time will hopefully be embraced. Upper body injuries to Toby Enstrom and Mark Stuart could potentially leave the Jets with only three of their top seven defencemen in the line-up when they meet the New York Islanders tonight. Enstrom was sent back to Winnipeg to be examined by team doctors and will miss the rest of the teams current seven game road trip. Stuart, known for his gritty play and the willingness to do whatever it takes to win is feeling the affects of his style of play.

Calling up defencemen from the St.John’s Ice Caps is inevitable and it looks like Brett Festering and Mark Flood will get their Jets debuts tonight.

The Islanders have had major goal scoring issues to begin the season. Last in the league in goals for with 18, seven scored by centremen John Tavares. It’s no secret that the key to Winnipeg’s success tonight will be shutting down number 91.

I’m looking for another strong performance from Ondrej Pavelec and the Jets to continue with the success of the current road trip. 3-1 Jets

10 Games In

The Winnipeg Jets are 10 games into the season and the start has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster but coach Claude Noel isn’t worried and says he does like his team. Noel also says that they do have areas that need much improvement and that teaching will be the key to reaching their goals, not expecting it to come to them naturally.

The 3-6-1 Jets are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night in which they played well enough to win and really deserved to earn a point. The Jets enjoyed a day off Sunday, an optional skate was attended by few.

Winnipeg face the 6-4-0 Florida Panthers tonight at BankAtlantic Center. The Eastern Conference and Southeast division rival Panthers have exceeded expectations to start the season and have won three of their last four.  A tight low scoring affair is more then likely going to define the match-up tonight. 3-1 Jets

Road Trip = High Hopes

The Winnipeg Jets will kick-off their longest road trip of the year tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. The seven game test could determine if they have what it takes to make the playoffs. Jets coach Claude Noel says that his team must learn to win on the road if they want to have any chance of being a playoff team. The 2-5-1 Jets are in danger of putting themselves in a tough position, playing catch-up if a strong road trip is not achieved.

Tonight’s tilt at the Wells Fargo Arena should be a good chance for the well rested Jets to take advantage of a Flyers team missing their captain and defensive backbone, Chris Pronger. The Flyers are coming off a 5-1 loss by the hands of the Montreal Canadiens lastnight which was observed by Jets players from the comforts of their hotel rooms.

Both teams have had minor goaltending controversy to start the season so I feel comfortable with putting my hard earned dollar bills on the over tonight. Jets 5-3

Penguins Slide, Jets Fly!

We did it Winnipeg!

Our Jets rose to the occasion tonight! It was a make it or break it type atmosphere in that MTS Centre! 0-4 or 1-3! I’ve never been so excited to have my team be at 1-3 on the season! We needed to win tonight and we did it! People were already getting down in the dumpsters just 3 games in! Talking about how our D was poor so far and how we couldn’t get the puck in the net. Hold on a minute… We have to remember that this team are at this point merely the “Atlanta Thrashers in Winnipeg Uniforms!” Though they have a new identity, fan support, new management, etc. they have most of the same players as they had down South that were nearly last in the league last year. We have to build off of new management, new plan, new building, new fans etc but would be crazy to be expecting what should be the unexpected. Let’s embrace this opportunity we have to even have a team and cheer for them and see what happens. Going to the game with my brother tonight was electric! What an experience for him to see his first Jets game in 16 years.

These Jets were hungry tonight! So much that they ate their first taste of victory not more than 8 seconds into the game. Way to go Kyle Wellwood! Tonight was different from other games. They didn’t give the puck up, chased the puck into the corners, and cleared the puck from Pavelec as he stopped 28 of 29 for the #1 star of the game. The couple dingers off of the post helped us too. Everything was better, PK was a crucial part of tonight’s win and will be for many to come I’m sure. All in all, we have lots of work to do but are on the right track if we continue to improve.

Scheifele?

Wasn’t much talk of him tonight. He ended up not playing much at just over 7 mins of total ice time and only one 17 second stint in the third. I’d like to see a little more of him before making much of an opinion of him as to if he should stay or go, but I won’t be surprised if he’s shipped off to the East Coast pretty soon to put on some weight and gain some experience. At 6’3″ 175, he’s still getting thrown around a bit and needs to beef up. Although very sturdy for his size, I can’t imagine what guys like Chara, Pronger, etc will do to him. Good for him that he made it this far through training camp and into the Opener vs the Habs, but now it may be time for him to continue with his humble attitude and take the demotion to the AHL with a grain of salt and build some muscle, brains and experience for what will be a wonderful career for him in the years to come.

Let’s keep our hopes up but our minds in tact when we cheer on our new team! Their will be some growing pains during the next few seasons, but hopefully with dividends to follow in the future!

Go Jets Go!