With tonight's 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Winnipeg Jets 2011-12 season, one that saw plenty of excitement and one that was, although not the Cinderella campaign Jets fans were hoping for, may have been one to remember, but is all but over as the Jets remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference still four points behind Washington and six points behind the eighth-place Buffalo Sabres with only six games remaining.
As for this game, it was billed as a game both teams drastically needed to win and both teams answered that call as it was end to end to the start. Both teams had plenty of chances to blow it open and both goalies answered the call. The Jets out shot the Sens 48-35 , a season-record for shots in one game for the club. Ottawa had the better scoring chances and if it wasn't for Ondjre Pavelec the results could have been much worse. However, Sens goaltender Craig Anderson wasn't exactly left to rot in his crease as he also had to be sharp.
Kyle Wellwood had a chance in the second period to take the lead for the Jets, which they never did have tonight, when he as awarded a penalty shot after being hooked and slashed when he was sent in alone on a feed from Andrew Ladd.
Once again, give-a-ways destroyed any chance the Jets had to create any momentum. And although they battled hard and had lots of shots and scoring chances and they didn't give up when Ottawa twice scored quickly in response to Jets goals (including the winning goal) they just couldn't match up with Ottawa's potent scoring punch.
Mathematically, the Jets are still in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, as minute as a chance that they have, but now they really have to have other teams win games for them in hopes of slowing down the teams ahead of them. A nearly impossible task, especially since Buffalo and Washington play each other this week and the Jets host the NHL-leading New York Rangers on Wednesday. The next few games will tell if "mathematically" is just code for not a chance.
Coach Noel post-game press conference
Illegal Curve Post-game podcast
