Note: The Jets have back to back Saturday matinees to end the regular season at the MTS Centre. Today we see the Vancouver Canucks at 2 pm. We will have plenty of coverage throughout the day on site. Be sure to keep it locked to @illegalcurve both before and after the game for the latest Jets news.
Note II: Reminder that with the Jets game being a matinee the Illegal Curve Hockey Show will be broadcasting from 8 am until 11 am on TSN 1290 Winnipeg as the guys kick off Jets game day coverage. Plenty to discuss including the Jets losing streak, preview the Jets/Canucks game and a look ahead to the Jets road trip. They will also take a look around the NHL. Guests: Iain MacIntyre (Vancouver Sun) and Brad Berry (UND Assistant Coach).
Games of significance last night: Stars lost. Avalanche won. Sharks won.
Games of significance tonight: Wild (vs. Wings). Stars (@ Preds). Sharks (@ Coyotes). Flames (@ Oilers). Avalanche (@ Kings).
Jets news:
CBC: 5 Things to Watch. Jeff hits us with some pre-game knowledge including: 1) Outside, looking in 2) Feeling fresh 3) No Buff, no problem 4) Seeing double and 5) On the mend.
Winnipeg Free Press: Back into the pressure cooker. While the Canucks are comfortably sitting in 2nd place in the Pacific they won’t roll over on for a Jets team that is absolutely desperate for a win.
Winnipeg Free Press: Money man: Jets ‘capologist’ says craft is much more than crunching numbers. Tim paints an interesting story on Larry Simmons. Simmons has been with this team since the Atlanta days and while he doesn’t receive a lot of attention he certainly plays an important function on this team.
Winnipeg Free Press: Time for Blake Wheeler to step up and pull the Jets through. Gary writes that Wheeler is the type of player that has the ability to push, pull and drag this team over the finish line.
Winnipeg Free Press: Maurice speaks about Byfuglien’s suspension, says he has no argument with NHL decision. The Jets bench boss handled himself well when asked about his thoughts regarding the suspension. He is savvy enough to know that he has nothing to gain by publicly complaining about the ruling.
Winnipeg Sun: Pavelec nominated for Bill Masterton Trophy. Kirk worked the Jets room speaking to everyone from Pavelec himself to other players to the coach to get their thoughts on the selection of the Jets goalie as the nominee as selected by members of the media here in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Sun: Byfuglien owes Jets when he returns vs. Calgary. I cannot imagine what the MTS Centre would be like next Saturday if the Jets and Flames end up with a play and you’re in game to end the regular season. If so, the return of Dustin Byfuglien would be just one of many interesting stories we will be discussing in one week’s time.
Sportsnet: Hockey Central (video). Panel of Daren Millard, John Shannon and Rich Sutter talk about Winnipeg and what they need to do as well as the importance of having Tyler Myers step up with Byfuglien suspended.
Sportsnet: 30 Thoughts. Jets crack thought 1, 2 and 3 (Byfuglien suspension).
Illegal Curve: Practice Report. A look at the lines from skate at the MTS Centre along with audio from Ondrej Pavelec, Blake Wheeler, Tyler Myers, Michael Frolik, Mathieu Perreault and Drew Stafford.
Jets audio:
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler & Lawless. Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joins Hustler & Lawless to discuss the Dustin Byfuglien 4-game suspension. LeBrun also discusses the NHL playoff races.
Illegal Curve: Coach Maurice scrum. Status of Jacob Trouba. His thoughts on the Pavelec nomination for the Bill Masterton Award. His thoughts on the Byfuglien suspension. On the heavier minutes that Trouba and Myers are going to see. Does he believe in a “must win” prior to an elimination game? Having players with different mentalities in the room. Does Byfuglien owe the team an apology for putting himself into that situation? On facing the Canucks. Is there an instance that he can think of Pavelec displaying ‘sportsmanship’? Are the games now tougher at this point in season so tight ones get away as opposed to need to overcome?
