Note: The Jets return to practice today following yesterday’s day off as they get ready for a Kings team that has lost two straight games following an eight game win streak.
Note II: While every Illegal Curve Hockey Show on TSN 1290 Winnipeg is special, today is our Trade Deadline Special from 12 noon to 3 pm. Three hours of hockey talk as the guys discuss the lead up to one of the biggest days on the hockey calendar.
Standings watch: Flames lost. Hawks lost. The Jets remain in the first wild card spot three points up on Minnesota (2 games in hand) and four points up on Calgary (1 game in hand).
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Chevy’s early activity creates suspense — is there more to come? This whirlwind of activity, while necessary for a team that sustained the injuries the Jets had, certainly caught many by surprise after the first three years of a more cautious approach. As Wheeler is expected to return and with Perreault also expected back before the playoffs I could see the Jets GM being done unless there is something on the table that is too good to pass up.
Winnipeg Free Press: New Jets may buck trends. There is only so much a great player can do when mired on a terrible team. A look at how the past numbers may not reflect future performance.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets won’t pressure young prospects. Many of the great role players for the Red Wings spent plenty of time toiling across the state of Michigan in Grand Rapids before being called up as part of the solution to any lineup troubles. Seems the Jets are smartly not rushing some of their younger AHL prospects just to be stop gaps in the NHL.
Winnipeg Sun: Tlusty makes strong impression. Couldn’t have been easy to go from Raleigh to Winnipeg and then immediately into the lineup. Will be interesting to see how Tlusty plays on Sunday after a complete practice with his new linemates today. Paul also writes about the Jets PK getting back on track, lack of penalty calls by refs, the hit to Scheifele’s head, new wingers for the Jets young centre, a sick-bay update and Pavelec’s new mask.
Photo Credit: Devon Edie
Winnipeg Sun: Transformation of Jets into punishing team has been impressive. For all the talk of systems and gap these Winnipeg Jets sure seem to have bought into what coach Maurice is selling.
Winnipeg Sun: It won’t be easy but Jets need to sustain level of play they showed against Blues. It is certainly not easy but then again, things in life aren’t usually achieved without a little elbow grease. That heavy type of game is going to be necessary down the stretch. Ted also writes about this being Cheveldayoff’s team and on analytics.
Illegal Curve: Nikolaj Ehlers 33 game point scoring streak ends. He amassed 75 points during this impressive streak and a lot of those goals were of highlight reel quality.
Jets audio:
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler & Lawless. Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joins Hustler & Lawless ahead of the NHL trade deadline. LeBrun says Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is still looking for a forward, and may not be done on the trade market. LeBrun also discusses potential suitors for Antoine Vermette.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: The Big Show. Shane Hnidy outlined what the Jets did to give St. Louis fits and what the club can do moving forward to ensure the playoffs are nothing but an inevitability.
IceCaps news:
The Telegram: IceCaps doubled up by Sharks. One of the pieces of the Kane/Bogosian trade to Buffalo that came back this way was Joel Armia who the team assigned to the IceCaps. Last night he picked up his first point (an assist) in the loss in his third game with St. John’s. More impressive is that Connor Hellebuyck was making his 46th appearance of the season (nine more than any other AHL goalie).
