They're still alive. With all the odds against grabbing the last wild card spot and making the NHL playoffs, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in overtime at the MTS Centre tonight, frustrating teams like the Vancouver Canucks (who the Jets leap-frogged over tonight by a point) Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars; who thought the little team from River City would roll over by now.
The Jets now have 73 points and sixth place in the Central, just four points out of reach of that second wild card spot currently held by the Coyotes with 77 points. The Jets need to go about 9-3, at minimum, in these last 12 games to hopefully garner enough points to sneak in the NHL's post-season. As mentioned before, they also need those aforementioned teams to falter quite a bit to make up any points lost in March's collapse of six straight losses.
The Jets were without Dustin Byfuglien tonight who suffered a lower-body injury against St. Louis and defenceman Zach Bogosian was injured during the warm-up tonight and did not play. Byfuglien is expected back Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Andrew Ladd had another chance to score the Jets first hat-trick since 2010 as he had two goals tonight and was all over Avs goaltender Reto Berra in the third period trying to notch that elusive third goal. Al Montoya made 23 saves for the win.
