Preds Edge Jets

Make Paul Maurice's record since taking over as the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets now 6-2, as the Jets fell to the Nashville Predators tonight 4-3 at the MTS Centre.  Another loss to a Central division rival doesn't help the Jets in their quest for a already arduous playoff push.  Especially a team that was only one point behind the Jets prior to tonight's game.

Kane Out Until After Olympic Break

It seems Evander Kane's hand injury is not fully healed and an ongoing infection will keep the Winnipeg Jets forward out of the line-up until at least after the Olympic break.

Jets Continue Winning; Beat Blackhawks 3-1 in Chicago

In a building you're not supposed to win in against a team you're not supposed to beat, the Winnipeg Jets went 5-1 under coach Paul Maurice, defeating the mighty Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 at the United Center Sunday night. Blake Wheeler scored twice (including an empty-netter) and Andrew Ladd added what proved to be the winner late in the third, the 150th of his career.  Evander Kane played in his 500th NHL game.
Al Montoya got the start and shone brilliantly, keeping the Jets in the game after the first two periods when the Blackhawks dominated the play.  He made 34 saves.

When was the last time the Jets won back-to-back games?

The Jets have now won six out of their last seven games and are gaining not only momentum, but confidence. Maurice has them believing in themselves that on any given night they can beat any team.  After beating the Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks and keeping the high-powered offence of the San Jose Sharks to one goal; Maurice may be right about that.

One Day...

I may feel differently about this after tonight's game against the Blackhawks, but, one day...

Jets Back in Win Column with OT Win Over Leafs

A 4-1 lead for the Winnipeg Jets was lost in the third period as the tenacious Toronto Maple Leafs came back to tie the game with 1:03 left in regulation by Phil Kessel.  Dustin Byfuglien ended it for the Jets at 2:44 of overtime, with the final score 5-4.

The Jets have now won five of the last six since head coach Paul Maurice took over behind the bench.  Their overall record is now 24-24-5.  Still last in the Central division and one point behind the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars with 53 points.  The Jets remain 16 points behind the Colorado Avalanche for third spot in the Central and trail both the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks by eight points for the last two wild card spots.  The Wild and Canucks both have 61 points.

The Jets now head to the United Center in Chicago for the second half of their back-to-back games against the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks on Sunday.

Sharks Nip Jets

It wasn't a one-bite meal, it wasn't a bloody massacre, but the San Jose Sharks continued their own winning streak to five as well as halting the Winnipeg Jets winning streak at four with a 1-0 shutout in San Jose last night.

The Jets now head home for a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday before heading back out on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at the United Center.

Jets Top Ducks at the Pond

The Jets played great.  Ondrej Pavelec was insane, making 40 saves on the night and the Winnipeg Jets pulled off what no other team has been able to do this season thus far: defeat the Anaheim Ducks at home in regulation play.  The Jets topped the Ducks 3-2 in the 60 minute allotted time span.  Teemu Selanne was on the Ducks roster, but the man Winnipeg hockey fans have dubbed, "forever a Jet," was kept off the scoreboard by the Jets near-stifling defense.

The win gave new head coach Paul Maurice his fourth consecutive win and a record of 4-0 as the Jets bench-boss since he took over from Claude Noel on Jan. 12.

Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd and Evander Kane in his first game back from a hand injury, scored for the Jets while adding an assist.  Nick Bonino and Cam Fowler scored for the Ducks.  Kane's second period short-handed goal (the Jets second in as many games) stood up as the winner for the Jets.  Although the Ducks out-shot and out-chanced the Jets, it was the Jets who really deserved to win this game with a very good defensive output.  The Ducks had their own wall of defense going as well, but the Jets made the most out of their limited chances.  They blocked shots, kept the dangerous Ducks offense to the outside and let Pavelec see almost every shot that came his way.  It didn't hurt that the Jets blocked 32, count 'em, 32 blocked shots in front of Pavelec.

The jets next face the equally tough-at -home San Jose Sharks that have themselves only lost twice in regulation.  Can the Jets play giant-killers again?  If they play like they have for the last four games, they most definitely have a shot.

Jets to Move Farm Club

True North Sports & entertainment CEO Mark Chipman held a press conference in Anaheim, California prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks last night and revealed the Winnipeg Jets are exploring moving their AHL minor-league affiliate St. John's Ice Caps closer to home.  Possibly to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Jets Have Fun at Public Practice

It's that time of year again.  The Winnipeg Jets held their annual open-to-the-public practice at the MTS Centre Sunday afternoon before they embark on a two-game road trip into Anaheim and San Jose, California to do battle with the Ducks and Sharks respectively.

But for the first time in a long while, the Jets were clearly having fun.  Erasing a five-game losing streak and starting a three-game win streak will do that to your mood, not to mention your confidence.
The smiles were on every Jets' face all afternoon.  The capacity crowd clearly appreciated the festivities as well and fun was had by all.

Jets Pull One Out Over Oilers

A late goal by Edmonton's David Perron almost cost the game for the Winnipeg Jets, as he potted one with 2:00 remaining in the third to tie it 2-2, but the Jets were able to pull it out in overtime with Jacob Trouba's second goal of the game and first OT goal of his career at 1:10 of the extra frame to extend their recent winning streak to three games; beating the visiting Edmonton Oilers 3-2.  The Oilers had a 1-0 lead in the third period and were on the power-play before Bryan Little set up Trouba for his first goal of the afternoon and his first short-handed marker of his NHL career.  Mark Scheifele's goal to give the Jets a 2-1 lead was his first on home ice.

Dustin Byfuglien was of the hook as he was a threat to score on multiple occasions.  However, he went pointless for just the second time in the last six games in this, Byfuglien's 500th NHL game.

The Jets now head off on their toughest road trip of the season thus far as they face the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks; two teams that have a combined two regulation losses all season.  Both of them by the Sharks. Anaheim is undefeated through 60 regulation minutes on home ice.  The Jets then come home for a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, before heading back on the road against the Central division-leading Chicago Blackhawks.
Although short, this will be one tough road trip.

Clitsome Out for Season

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Grant Clitsome has had season-ending back surgery and will be on the injured reserve list for the duration of the 2013-2014 campaign.

Jets Douse Flames

The Winnipeg Jets made it two in a row for new head coach Paul Maurice as they dominated the struggling Calgary Flames 5-2 at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

The continued the energy they demonstrated in the win over Phoenix on Monday as the Jets owned a 4-0 advantage after two periods.  The Flames were allowed to pot a couple of goals when the Jets let up in the third period, including Mark Giordano scoring just 40 seconds into the third frame, but Jacob Trouba answered back with a nice move after a pass from Oli Jokinen and he beat Reto Berra glove-side to regain the four-goal lead.

Ondrej Pavelec was brilliant in the first two periods when the Flames were able to muster some dangerous-looking scoring chances and the game could have been closer, sooner without him.  Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele continued their point streaks, along with Jokinen and Bryan Little with goals by all and assists by Little, Andrew Ladd and Byfuglien.  Blake Wheeler and Chris Thorburn, especially, also shined for the Jets.  The 2-point night was all the rage for the Jets against their old-time rivals from Alberta. 








The Jets now face three teams that have lost a combined five games in regulation.  Anaheim is undefeated, San Jose has lost twice and Chicago has only lost three times at home in regulation play this season.  Don't expect the Jets to put any fear to any of those three teams during the Jets next California run.  Expect a possible two out of six points on this road trip.  Both coming in either O.T. or shoot-out.

Kane Placed on IR

The Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Evander Kane on injured reserve as his hand injury is not healing as quick as anticipated.  The Jets have called up Carl Klingberg from the AHL's St. John's IceCaps.

Maurice Speaks of Noel, the Letter Left Behind and His Vision of The Jets

Former Winnipeg Jets head coach, in a touch of class, left a note for Paul Maurice about the ownership, the players, the passion of the fans of Winnipeg and how he'll be treated in River City.

Jets Snap Five-Game Losing Streak with Route Over Yotes

The debut of head coach Paul Maurice was a winning one as the Winnipeg Jets snapped a five-game losing skid with a 5-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes at the MTS Centre tonight.

Eric O'Dell opened the scoring with his second NHL goal and Blake Wheeler scored his 17th of the season to make it 3-1 and the Jets never looked back.  The Jets went only 1-7 on the power-play, but the puck movement was impressive and the margin of victory could have and should have been much wider.  The route of the former Jets has taken Jets 2.0 out of their slump and their confidence could be seen on their faces.  It's only one victory after a tumultuous slide, but things might be starting to improve. The Jets were able to register 38 shots on Coyotes goalie Mike Smith and kept him on the edge of his crease all night. All in all, not a good night for the Olympic-bound goalie.

In the upcoming video with post-game comments by the new Jets coach, listen to what Maurice says about Ondrej Pavelec especially. 

Maurice Speaks

New Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice was introduced to the Winnipeg media and he relayed his thoughts on what his job is and what has to happen to improve the play of the Jets.




The players react:

Jets Fire Noel, Hire Paul Maurice

The Winnipeg Jets have fired head coach Claude Noel and replaced him with ex-Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Paul Maurice.

After losing five straight games, the most recent 6-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Jets are now 10 points out of the second wild card spot for the NHL playoffs with a record of 19-23-5.  They sit dead last in the Central division.

Noel is a player's coach and apparently could not whip his players into the right state of mind or to get them to buy into his system, which resulted in a three-season record (taking into account of the 2012-2013 shortened season) of 80-79-18.

Personally I liked Noel.  His media scrums and press conferences were always entertaining.  His story of his time with the old Johnstown Jets about a brawl that inspired the famous scene from Slap Shot is a classic. But professional hockey is a business and the only thing that matters is wins and losses.  Noel himself would be the first to say that.
Let's hope he lands on his feet somewhere soon.  I'm sure he will.