The Winnipeg Jets are making it oh so hard on themselves and their fans. After a great 5-game home-winning streak to put themselves within a puck shot of first place in the NHL's South-East division, they now find themselves three points behind the Washington Capitals for the SE lead and one point behind the eighth-seeded New York Rangers, due to last night's 5-4 shootout loss to the New York Islanders.
With a point gained in the loss that saw the Jets come from behind late in the third period to tie the game before John Taveres ended it in the shootout, 2-1, the Jets are still in playoff contention. With a loss or two by either the Capitals or Rangers, the Jets can still either claim first in the South-East and a free ride to third overall in the Eastern Conference and home-ice advantage in the first round. Or they can still wrap-up eighth, currently held by the Rangers by winning probably at least two out of their last three games; including what's shaping up to be a hum-dinger in Washington this Tuesday.
But first the Jets have to get by a stubborn Buffalo Sabres team on Monday, who themselves are mathematically still in the hunt for that same eighth and final playoff seed. They cannot be overlooked. They may have under-achieved this season, but they're looking for respect as well as extending their season into May.
For a positive, Andrew Ladd extended his game point-streak to seven with an assist on a goal by Kyle Wellwood.
The Jets have three games remaining with a possible six very valuable points up for grabs. The game against the Caps on Tuesday is pinnacle to say the least. A loss there and it's over. The same must be said for the Sabres game the night before. The Jets are all out of options and with the loss last night, if every game wasn't a must-win before (which they most certainly were) they are now.
