While Dave Minuk is off partying in Vegas, looks like I will be taking over the Morning Papers. Follow along with Dave’s shenanigans on his twitter account. If you’re going to follow him, might as well follow me too!
Illegal Curve News
Yesterday’s Illegal Curve Hockey Show will be available to download later this afternoon.
Winnipeg Jets News
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets playoff hopes on life support Ottawa and Buffalo winning last night didn’t help the Jets much. Sportsclubstats.com has the Jets playoff odds at 5.1%.
Winnipeg Free Press: Lack of production from bigger guns hampering Jets The 4th line of Machacek, Stapleton and Maxwell can’t do it on their own. Blake Wheeler was great for a stretch but has only two points and is -2 in the last five games. Other scoring droughts, “Kane hasn’t scored in five games, Burmistrov hasn’t scored in ten, and Wellwood hasn’t scored in seven.” At this time of year you need your best players to be your best players.
Winnipeg Free Press: Highlight Reel Predators 3 / Jets 1 Stapleton from Machacek and Maxwell was the Jets only goal last night. Spencer Machacek in his last four games: 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points, +6. Ben Maxwell in his last four games: 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, +5. Tim Stapleton in his last four games: 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points, +7.
Winnipeg Free Press: The Race This is one race that the Jets are falling out of.
Winnipeg Sun: Predators drop Jets 3-1 Could have been much worse if it wasn’t for Ondrej Pavelec. Good thing for Pavelec he is an RFA after this season and is due for a raise, here’s part 1 and part 2 of our analysis.
Winnipeg Sun: Snapshots: Comeback wasn’t in card for Jets If this game was earlier in the season, I don’t think we would be overly disappoined with the loss. They Jets were up against a Stanley Cup contender, on the road, on the second night of a back to back. It was 2-1 late in the third, and they had a shot to tie it.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets eye Preds for building pointers The Preds have been the most successful late 90s/early 00s expansion franchise in terms of on ice product, making the playoffs in six seasons. Atlanta moved to Winnipeg, Columbus has made the playoffs once in 11 seasons, not including the disaster of this season. Minnesota has made the playoffs three times and has gone the farthest of any of the four expansion teams with a visit to the Western Conference Final in 2003.
Side note: I went to a playoff game during Minnesota’s run in 2003, it was in the second round against Vancouver. I wore my Marcus Naslund jersey to the Xcel Energy Centre, proudly cheering for Vancouver with a few buddies. The Canucks won in overtime off of a Brent Sopel goal. To make a long story short, I’m happy I made it out alive.
TSN: Jets back-to-back woes continue against the Predators It’s been their achilles heel all season, the Jets are 1-10 in the second game of back-to-backs. I think after one season in Winnipeg under their belt, the road record and record in back-to-backs will improve. It can only go up from here right?
The Tennessean: Predators’ Radulov gets welcome-back party If the Nashville franchise wasn’t having so much success, and so close to a cup, would they be welcoming him back with such open arms? The guy bailed on his contract, he should be a villain, but Nashville has put together such a successful franchise, he’s now the savior and the scorer that they have needed for some time.
Puck Daddy: Atlanta Thrashers jerseys thrown on ice during Winnipeg Jets’ loss in Nashville I can’t blame them for showing their frustration, but I wouldn’t throw away a perfectly good jersey, there is always eBay.
Jordin Tootoo News
Winnipeg Free Press: Not a Tootoo bad story
Winnipeg Sun: Tootoo on scratch: ‘Pisses me off’ Glad to see a player showing some emotion, rather than holding back.
Next opponent news: Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Citizen: Senators break out offence in win over Penguins Impressive that they could go toe to toe with Crosby, Malkin & co.
Ottawa Sun: Sens pen a winner According to Sportsclubstats.com the surprise Sens have a 91.2% chance at making the playoffs.
NHL News:
Globe and Mail: Answering Montreal’s prayers: St. Patrick ascends to the Habs As mentioned on yesterday’s Illegal Curve Hockey Show.
