Winnipeg Jets Afternoon News (Tuesday, Feb 28th)

Jets news:

Note:  Tanner Glass, Jim Slater and Chris Thorburn bring their GST line skills to the Rick Mercer Report tonight at 8pm on CBC.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets keen to turn things around against Panthers.  We’ve been saying it for the last few games but as coach Noel said today, every game (of the 17 remaining) will be a playoff type game for Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Sun:  Noel eases off Jets.  Much like in horse racing, you need to know how to pace yourself, and coach Noel has spoken many times on properly managing his players during the course of this race for the post season.  Especially when they use a lot of energy for “heavy” games.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets players take to twitter.  Geoff Kirbyson has some fun with the players talking twitter and while none follow him as of yet, @illegalcurve has a Jets follower.  IC compiled a list of all the Jets players and their twitter handles and you can see that here.  

Canadian Public Relations Society:  CPRS Manitoba’s Manitoba Communicator of the Year.  Congrats go to Scott Brown, Senior Director of Corporate Communications for True North, as he was selected as this year’s recipient.

Illegal Curve:  Coach Noel press conference.  The Jets held an optional skate today and only a few players chose to participate.  The newest Jets Grant Clitsome is still not in Winnipeg and coach Noel still hasn’t determined if he will be a player on Thursday.

Around the Southeast:

TSN:  Panthers lose Versteeg for at least 3 games.  Jets fans won’t be too upset not seeing the Alberta native not playing against Winnipeg as he has been a Jets killer (6 goals in 4 games) so far this season.

Washington Post:  Keith Aucoin hopes to stick with Caps a little longer this time.  He has bounced back and forth between the AHL and the NHL but a couple more games in the NHL and the Caps will have to chance him on waivers.

NHL.com:  Lee, Commodore exited to make Lightning debuts.  I’m upset that Commodore didn’t leap at the chance to take #64 at his jersey number.  Hope I am not dating myself with that joke.

News and Observer:  Spacek, Allen happy not to be on move.  You have to wonder if players who could leave as UFA’s wouldn’t relish the opportunity to play on a Cup contender.