Again and again and again. The Winnipeg Jets not only lost tonight to the Tampa Bay Lightning once again due to unwavering give-a-ways by a score of 4-2, but they only were able to muster 14 shots on net the whole game, including only two in the first period. This was their fourth consecutive loss, their second such slide this season. Their two goals were on the power-play as they failed to register an even-strength goal. The Jets now fall to 19-22-5 and sit dead last in the Central division.
Ondrej Pavelec did his job on this night as the score could have been much, much worse. Defenceman Dustin Byfuglien The Lightning's Martin St. Louis scored twice to seal the deal and was respectfully applauded by the Jets fans as they showed their appreciation to him by acknowledging his being astonishingly left off the Team Canada roster for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
The Jets had no energy, no heart and simply no will to win. This is quickly becoming the norm for this team (and I do use the word "team" lightly when it comes to their recent play). Although the Jets have played moderately well against the established "elite" teams in the league (Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, etc.) they also play down to the level of the, shall we say, lesser talented teams. The Jets, sadly, are one of the latter. Is it time for a major change or shake-up? Obviously, yes. But what to do? Fire Claude Noel? Trade Dustin Byfuglien, Evander Kane or Blake Wheeler? Who knows? But something has to be done soon if the organization wishes to salvage the rest of the season and make the playoffs. Consider though, True North Sports and Entertainment have only fired one head coach going back to the Manitoba Moose of the IHL/AHL. That was Jean Perron. Others like Randy Carlyle and Scott Arniel chose to leave the Moose to pursue coaching positions in the NHL. Carlyle won the Stanley Cup as head coach of the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks. The point being, TNSE don't hire and fire their coaching staff willy-nilly.
As for trading Byfuglien, Kane, Wheeler or anyone else off of the current roster, that might be a problem in Buff's case, given his tenacity for inconsistent play (along with most of the team) along with his 2013-2014 $5.75 million contract. The two simply don't go together and would be a hindrance for shopping the big blue-liner around. That's not to say there isn't a want or need for someone like the rarity that is Dustin Byfuglien. His offensive upside is a big bright spot. However, his defensive lapses could and will cause any general manager in the league to pause before inking any deal with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. The Oilers may be interested, so says the Edmonton Journal's Jonathan Willis.
So what's the answer? Well, if it were easy, Chevy would have already had the answer and the Jets would be in a playoff spot.
Things are definitely not well in Jetland.
