Note: The team will practice in Winnipeg today at 11 am before they take off for Anaheim. We will be down at practice and as always be sure to follow @illegalcurve for the latest Jets news.
Note II: Tune in for a special Playoff Preview edition of NHL Mid-Week which airs from 6 pm to 8 pm on TSN 1290 Winnipeg. The guys will go division by division as they break down the eight series. Guests: Eric Duhatschek (Globe and Mail) and Dan Wood (Ducks radio color analyst).
Afternoon Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: New faces bring winning culture to Jets. The kids are alright and certainly having an impact this season and for Jets fans they hope it will continue into the post-season.
Winnipeg Sun: One-on-one with Mark Chipman. Paul sat down with the Jets co-owner and conducted this interview in advance of the first playoffs (in this city) for this re-born franchise.
CBC: Jets playoff tickets sell out in a flash. I looked myself online at 10 am and it seemed to me that they were already gone by 10:01 but officially the club is saying it took under five minutes to sell. There were approximately 1000 seats for sale.
Illegal Curve: Coach Maurice scrum (audio). Before the team departed for Anaheim the bench boss spoke to the media about the playoffs, his philosophy and a number of other topics.
Illegal Curve: Practice Report. No changes from yesterday meaning everyone was on the ice except Mathieu Perreault. Audio from Adam Lowry, Blake Wheeler, Mark Stuart and Tyler Myers.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets could be surprise darlings of playoffs. Ed looks at five topics before team departs for Cali including 1) Jets are a trendy Stanley Cup pick 2) A few surprises 3) Eddie O’s take 4) Lifestyles of the rich and famous and 5) The Freep in Anaheim.
Winnipeg Free Press: Ducks Unlimited. While the Ducks are a very good team the Jets do match them pretty well which should make for a very interesting series.
Winnipeg Free Press: Edging Ducks’ dynamic duo key to Jets’ success. The Ducks top end talent is significant and it is going to take some significant team effort to shut down the likes of Getzlaf and Perry.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets content to play up ‘underdog’ role. Coach Maurice wasn’t prepared to give up the role of underdog despite the fact that many pundits feel the Jets are at least a team that is on equal footing with the Ducks.
Winnipeg Sun: Speedy Jets might be too much to handle. Ken breaks down both squads including a look at their strengths, weaknesses, intangibles and potential heroes.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets happy to be underdogs. The Jets bench boss didn’t want to give away the idea that his team is playing the role of David while the Ducks are Goliath yesterday in his presser with the media.
Winnipeg Sun: Perreault status up in air for Jets. We have been here before with Perreault. The Jets bench boss didn’t give anything away when asked about his status.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets expects things to get nasty in a hurry with Ducks. From their stars to their role players the Ducks aren’t a soft team and we should expect some heavy hockey.
Winnipeg Sun: Ducks have edge in playoff games played but Jets not intimidated. While some Jets have Stanley Cup championships (Ladd, Byfuglien, Frolik) most are relatively inexperienced when it comes to playing hockey in the middle of April and beyond. However they won’t be using that as an excuse when they start their series against the Ducks on Thursday.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets fans headed to Anaheim to cheer on team. It is certainly affordable to pay for flights and tickets when you consider what it would cost you if you are on the outside looking to get in here in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Sun: Portage and Main likely gathering place for Jets fans. We have been getting inquires as to where would be a spot for fans to gather to watch the games as a collective. Appears we have your answer.
CBC: Jets go into 1st-round with Ducks riding hot goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. He was named the NHL 2nd star of the week on Monday after posting three straight shut outs and fans hope he keeps that hot streak alive in California.
CBC: Jets fan scammed in shady Kijiji playoff ticket deal. While I feel bad for her how many times have we heard from the Jets that fans shouldn’t be buying tickets on sites like Kijiji.
USA Today: Ducks and Jets preview. Kevin Allen previews the series including a comparison of the goalies, storylines, key matchup, Why the Ducks should win, Why the Jets could win, injuries and a prediction.
Sportsnet: The agony and joy of being a Winnipeg Jets fan. Many from Winnipeg and those whose hearts will never leave Manitoba even if they have, can understand all too well this article.
TSN: Jets primed for first playoff appearance since return. Paul writes about the last couple of weeks and how the team is ready to make some noise in the playoffs.
Illegal Curve: Practice Report. Some of my notes from practice as well as audio from Pavelec, Little, Myers, Chiarot, Slater, Ladd, Scheifele and Frolik.
Jets audio:
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler and Lawless. TSN’s Jeff O’Neill joined the show to share his predictions on the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks including a bold prediction that we may be seeing Lord Stanley’s mug sooner rather than later in the Peg’.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Jets Lunch. TSN 1290 Winnipeg Jets Analyst JP Vigier looks back on the last time the Thrashers were in the playoffs and looks ahead to the Jets/Ducks series.
Illegal Curve: Coach Maurice scrum. The Jets bench boss spoke with the media for about 11 minutes on Monday.
Ducks news:
Orange County Register: NBC analyst Eddie Olczyk says pressure is on Ducks in Stanley Cup playoffs. While has to be music to the Jets ears.
