Enstrom Forgoes Olympics to Concentrate on Jets

In a story of why the new Jets "culture of winning" is surely taking hold in the minds of the players, defenceman Toby Enstrom has turned down an offer by his native Sweden to play for his country at 2014 Sochi Olympics to instead concentrate on getting the Winnipeg Jets to the NHL 2014 playoffs.

Jets Shoot Themselves in the Foot Against Blues

Still finding new ways to lose, the Winnipeg Jets were on the verge of defeating one of the most consistent, disciplined and offensively gifted teams in the NHL (where the Jets went 4-5 on the penalty kill) until a late interference penalty by Toby Enstrom that sealed the Jets' fate with 2:13 remaining in the close-checking third period.  The Blues' Alexander Steen (son of Jets great Thomas Steen) made the most of the situation by scoring his eleventh goal of the young season.  The Blues won 4-3.  The Jets have lost the last five of six and are in dire need of some bounces.


Things won't be getting better soon as the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks visit the MTS Centre on Saturday.  Unless things dramatically improve, expect more of the same.  That's not to say the Jets are doomed to lose, but they better pull out every single stop they have.

Jets Downed by Avs

Not unexpected, the Winnipeg Jets powerplay yet again failed to click and it cost them the chance to beat the number one ranked team in the NHL in another good effort.  With a 2-1 lead in the third period and with Jet goaltender Al Montoya saving the game on more than a few occasions, the Jets let, what would have been a well-deserved win, slip away as the Colorado Avalanche scored late in the third to clinch their tenth regulation win, 3-2.

Postma Out Indefinitely

Jets defenceman Paul Postma has been found to have a blood clot in his leg and according to Head Coach Claude Noel, he will be out of the lineup indefinitely.

Jets Snap Losing Skid with Win Over Stars

For the third time in four games, the Winnipeg Jets needed extra time to settle the final score against themselves and the Dallas Stars.  Overtime solved nothing as the Jets won 2-1 in the shootout in a tight-checking, textbook road game.

Good Effort, Same Outcome

Once again the Winnipeg Jets have found a new way to disappoint their fans.  Even though the Jets put forth another good team effort against the Nashville Predators, they just couldn't capitalize on chances in front of Nashville netminder, Carter Hutton.  In the end a Dustin Byfuglien turnover in the defensive zone to Craig Smith, who scored with just 17 seconds left in overtime left the Jets with their third consecutive loss.

Jets Bested in Thriller

In by far the most entertaining Jets game of the season, the Winnipeg club put up their best effort all season long, grinding it out with the Washington Capitals, but coming up short, losing 5-4 in a shootout in which six straight shooters scored.

The Jets deserved this one with Bryan Little scoring twice, including the Jets first short-handed goal of the seasonbut Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby stole the show in what would have otherwise been a Winnipeg blowout.  Alex Ovechkin also put a damper on things as he lit the lamp twice, quieting the MTS crowd at key points.

Uninspired Jets Lose to Predators

Here we go again.  Another lackadaisical effort by the Winnipeg Jets, another uninspired loss on home ice.  This time it was to the Nashville Predators, 3-1.  Goal-scoring, as well as defence is becoming really troublesome for the Jets.

Trouba Placed on Injured Reserved

Jacob Trouba has been placed on I.R. by the Winnipeg Jets after awkwardly falling head-first into the boards Friday against the St. Louis Blues.

Jets Comeback to Beat Blues in Shootout; Stuart, Trouba Injured

It looked like yet another lazy output for the Winnipeg Jets early on, but by the end of the second period they found their legs-and the net-to come from two down in the third period to defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in a shootout.

Ondrej Pavelec was beaten by the first two St. Louis shooters in the shootout, but stopped the next five to ensure Olli Jokinen's top-corner wrist-shot on Brian Elliot stood up as the winner.

During the game, both center Mark Stuart and defenceman Jacob Trouba were injured, with Trouba taken off the ice on a stretcher after awkwardly going into the boards head-first.

Kane Injured in Practice

Evander Kane was injured in practice yesterday morning when he collided with teammate Anthony Peluso.  He is listed as day to day.

Habs Shutout Jets

After performing to their fullest to shutout the New Jersey Devils, the Jets fell by the same score of 3-0 to the Montreal Canadiens.  The Jets/Thrashers franchise has not defeated the Habs in 15 consecutive contests.

Jets Shutout Devils

After three consecutive starts by the Jets that were to say the least, lackluster, the hometown crowd at the MTS Centre were finally able to see another victory since the home-opener Oct. 4 versus the Los Angeles Kings, as the Jets shutout the also struggling New Jersey Devils 3-0 on the strength of Al Montoya's fourth career shutout. Also in the victory was Olli Jokinen's 700th career point which was collected on Evander Kane's second goal of the game into an empty net.

Jets Fall to 2-3 After Loss to Stars

After a promising 2-0 start to the 2013-2014 season including a win in both their season-opener and home-opener, both a first for the franchise since the transfer from Atlanta in 2011; the Jets have fallen to 2-3 after almost being shut out by the Dallas Stars, 4-1.

Wild Tame Jets

It's hard to score when you don't have the puck.  That was essentially what happened to the Winnipeg Jets last night as they were thoroughly outplayed by Minnesota and couldn't muster enough chances on Josh Harding.  The Wild came away with a 2-1 victory that dropped the Jets to 2-2.

Thank You Flash

Not my words, but from Ed Tait; although his thoughts really reflect mine today.

Selanne in all his hockey glory, by the numbers.

Selanne Honors Peg

In what could be Teemu Selanne's final media scrum in Winnipeg, he talked about his admiration and respect for the city in which he started his career.

I say he'll be back when True North and the Winnipeg Jets honor past players in Jets 1.0 history in a banner(s) raising ceremony.

Jets Fall to Ducks

Although the man of the night, Teemu Selanne was held scoreless, the Anaheim Ducks still managed to squeak a win out of the Winnipeg Jets 3-2, due to a late give-a-way by Zach Bogosian after he lost his footing behind his own net and Corey Perry was there to slip it past Ondrej Pavelec.

Teemu Selanne, Forever A Jet

At the end of this 2013-2014 National Hockey League season, future Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne will hang up his skates and retire after a 22-year career which saw him obliterate Mike Bossy's record for goals and points by a rookie set in 1993 while a member of the Winnipeg Jets.

Selanne, as of the start of this NHL campaign, has recorded 675 goals and 755 assists for 1430 points.
That will obviously be increased as he enters his final year in the league and will most likely end up in fifteenth spot on the all-time points leaders list surpassing Stan Mikita this season.  He's only 37 points behind Mikita as of this writing.  He won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-2007.  Suffice to say Selanne will be a first-ballot entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  And most probably he will only have to wait the minimum three years before being on the nomination ballot.  His international numbers also speak volumes as he is the all-time points leader in that category as well as he leads all skaters in both Olympic competition as well as the world championships.

As everyone knows, Selanne started his NHL career in Winnipeg in 1993.  He only played three and a half seasons in a Jet uniform before insanely being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim virtually overnight to the shock and ire of every Jets fan.
It didn't take long for Selanne to become a fan favourite in Winnipeg.  In fact many (including your truly) will always consider him a Winnipeg Jet although he has played 15 years in Anaheim (over two tenures there) and won his first and only Stanley Cup there.  His wife, Sirpa didn't want to leave Winnipeg in the first place.  The Selannes even came back to Winnipeg after he was traded to have their first child, their son Eemil, born in the city.  He will go into the Hall as a Duck.  Another inevitable fact that also irks Winnipeg hockey fans, although many of them will admit it is undeniable given the obvious discrepancy in times spent playing in the two cities and the above mentioned Stanley Cup win with the Ducks.

Even today, Selanne is one of three former Jets that encompasses their existence.  For Winnipeg Jets fans he will always be a Jets legend.  The others being Bobby Hull and Dale Hawerchuck. You could probably add Thomas Steen to that list as well, although he was underrated throughout his entire 14-year career-all with the Jets-outside of Winnipeg.

There is nothing negative that can be said about the man.  His humility, as well as his talent, is legendary.  He has never publicly said anything derogatory about any player or organization.  Repeatedly throughout the years, everyone from Gary Bettman, his teammates, coaches, GMs and fans the world over have sung his praises about his statesmanship.  There will most likely never be another Teemu Selanne.

Oh how I wish he was going into the hall as a Jet.

Jets Beat Kings to Start Season 2-0

For the first time since transferring to Winnipeg from Atlanta, the Jets finally won their home opener by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 at the raucous MTS Centre after losing the last two home openers to the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.



MILESTONE: Olli Jokinen's goal against Los Angeles Friday night was the 300th of his NHL career.

Jets Ink Morrissey

The Winnipeg Jets have signed 2013 first-round draft pick Joshua Morrissey to a three-year, two-way entry level contract.

Jets Open Season with Win

For the first time in three seasons, the Winnipeg Jets have won their season opener by defeating the Edmonton Oilers after coming from behind, 5-4.  The Oilers had a 4-2 lead late in the third.

Both Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba scored their first goals of the season, with Trouba earning the first star of the game wit a goal and an assist, including the tying goal to notch it 4-4 with just under nine minutes left in the third.  Scheifele scored his marker on the power-play.

Ondrej Pavelec came up big at times, but not as much as late in the third when Edmonton was desperate to tie it after pulling goalkeeper Devin Dubnyk and a man down after the Jets were charged with too many men on the ice.

The Jets looked to be running around in their own end at time and arrant passes did result in more than one turnover, including one for a dangerous-looking shot on goal by the Oilers Mark Arcobello that had Pavelec on his toes. The play could be described as sloppy with the Jets in the second period as a whole.

However, the defence core as a whole stuck together and helped their goal-tender when he needed it and the Jets were able to group together and make it happen.  Head coach Claude Noel noticed Trouba in a big way.
"I thought [he] was outstanding," Noel said of the rookie defenceman, "I thought he did a lot of good things all over the ice."

After winning the first season-opening win for the Jets since 2011,  this is also the first opening game the Jets scored more than one goal after only scoring once apiece against Ottawa and Montreal the last two years.
Let's hope the Jets can keep this momentum going to start a lengthy home stand minus two games.