What do the Winnipeg Jets have to do to win a few games and put some space between them and their quickly-gaining division rivals?
For the fourth consecutive game the Winnipeg Jets failed to distance themselves from their nearest competitors from upon their perch in the NHL's South-East division, losing to the surging New York Islanders, 5-2.
The Jets are now officially in danger of being the meltdown team of the 2012-2013 NHL season. With their seemingly comfortable six-point lead in the south-East now down to a precarious two against the Washington Capitals and four against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Jets are are now indeed in danger of failing to make the post-season altogether. They've held the top spot in the NHL's weakest division for about a month now and they still are unable to close it out by getting themselves some much needed points in must-win games. If this is the kind of effort we expect the the Jets to put forth should they make the playoffs, they won't last past for games and should probably wave the white flag after three.
Should the Jets fall from first in the South-East and with the all the other bottom seven teams gaining points on the Jets during this now four-game losing skid, compounded with the top eight jostling for their final playoff seeding, and find themselves in the Eastern Conference basement-even behind the lowly Florida Panthers-it will be the worst systematic crumbling of any team this year. Okay, maybe not as bad as the Panthers. But even the West's Columbus Blue Jackets have they can put together a couple of wins when needed. It's bad when your team gets compared to the Blue Jackets in any capacity
This may be the time when fans look back and said this was the game that ruined everything. But the Jets still lead the South-East division by two points and their are still 10 games to play. If they can go 5-5 the rest of the way (6-4 would be optimal, and at this point all they probably hope for) along with some key losses for the teams in their own division, the could still rap up first place and weasel their way into home-ice advantage in round one. Although judging by their home record this season, that may not be the advantage one would expect. So is it really panic tie yet?
One thing is certain. The Jets better start winning. And that right soon.
