Note: The Jets went into St. Paul last night and did something they hadn’t been able to do all season long as they defeated the Wild by a final score of 3-1 which punched their tickets to the post-season. It was a fight filled affair which even had the coaches contemplating going for a tilt. The two points means the Predators have been eliminated as Winnipeg claims the second wild card spot although their opponent is still yet to be determined. They are off today.
Note II: The Moose also punched their ticket to the playoffs last night as they kicked off a four-game road trip last night in Texas against the Stars. They started the same as the Jets holding a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes but their victory was a little less conventional after they gave up three straight but they came back to take it 7-5. The re-match with the Stars goes tonight. Puck drop is at 7 PM CDT.
Note III: The Ice know they’ll face the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final. These two teams also met last season in the second round. Game 1 is in Winnipeg on Friday.
Jets news:
Sportsnet: How the Jets got back on track to salvage their season. It helps when you have a goalie of Connor Hellebuyck’s calibre but it’s also been a much better all around effort from this club that has seen them go 7-3-0 in their last ten games. Wieber breaks it all down.
Global News: Playoff-bound Jets took a while to get there, but worth the wait. This team sure seems to be clicking at the right time and it will be interesting to see if they can use the momentum they’ve been generating the last few weeks and bring it into the first round of the playoffs.
Sportsnet: Team effort in home stretch rewarded as Jets secure playoff spot. Wieber gives you his thoughts from the road after the big win by Winnipeg to punch their ticket.
Winnipeg Sun: Second season awaits as Jets clinch playoff spot. I look forward to a different brand of hockey, hopefully one that leaves questionable officiating on the outside looking in.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets, Mark Chipman, call for help as attendance decreases. There were definitely mixed reviews to the launch of the new campaign by the local NHL club.
Winnipeg Free Press: Hellebuyck stands tall and things get nasty against Wild as Jets secure post-season berth. (Paywall). There’s a reason he has been named the Three Stars award winner by the Jets five of the last six seasons.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets clinch playoff spot, owner urges local biz to buy in. (Paywall). It was an interesting revelation that the team has lost 3000 season ticket holders since the pandemic.
The Athletic Winnipeg: The Jets are playoff-bound, where the true test awaits. (Paywall). Who are the real Winnipeg Jets? It is the team from the first 50 games? The only from the 25 subsequent contests? Or is this one who they really are? We will find out soon enough.
Global News: Hellebuyck brilliant as Jets edge Wild 3-1 to secure playoff spot. He was spectacular once again.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Wild’s shot at Central title disappears in 3-1 loss to Jets. Get insight from a writer who covers the Jets opponent.
Jets video:
TSN: Which first round matchup is best for the Jets? With Winnipeg now locked into the final wild card spot in the West, they have a few options as to who they could face in the first round of the playoffs. Who would be a more favorable opponent for the Jets? TSN Hockey analyst Frankie Corrado shares his thoughts.
TSN: Jets’ third line, Hellebuyck shine as Winnipeg clinches playoff spot. Kevin Sawyer joins Dan Robertson to discuss the exceptional play from the Jets’ third line and Connor Hellebuyck in their playoff-clinching win over the Wild.
TSN: Button on Jets: ‘I think they can beat any team that they play in the first round’. Craig Button joins SportsCentre to discuss the heated moments late in the game between the Jets and Wild, how Connor Hellebuyck stepped up big time when the Jets needed him most down the stretch, and share how dangerous Winnipeg can be in the postseason.
Moose news:
Illegal Curve Hockey: Moose punch their ticket to the AHL playoffs with wild 7-5 win over the Stars in Texas. Get the full story from yesterday’s game including lineup news, notable factoids, post-game media and more.
AHL website: Gawanke growing into leadership role with Moose. Funny how this article just came out yesterday (prior to the game) and it is already dated because he snapped the record. Still worth your time to give it a read.
