Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  The Jets face their first elimination game as they hope to stave off a fourth loss in a row to the Anaheim Ducks tonight at the MTS Centre.  Be sure to keep it locked to illegalcurve.com throughout the day as we update you with the latest Jets news.

Note II:  Stay connected to us via social media including twitter(@illegalcurve), Facebook and our Instagram account.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets admit to playoff learning curve.   Gary writes about how the lack of experience is starting to catch up to this young Jets team as they try and learn on the go.  

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets coach sticks up for Byfuglien.  I listened to his presser yesterday and was, once again, suitably impressed by the awareness shown by the Jets bench boss.   The veteran bench boss drew all the attention to himself and off his player (in this case Byfuglien) in an attempt to switch focus.

Winnipeg Free Press:  A defiant Byfuglien faces the media.  You really never know what you are getting when big #33 comes for a chat with the media.  Yesterday in his scrum he took a different tact when answering questions.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets suffering from simple case of stage fright.  My problem with this notion is it discounts the team the Jets are facing.  A Ducks team that finished first in the Western Conference, has shown balance throughout their lineup and have received solid goaltending from Frederik Andersen.

Winnipeg Sun:  Byfuglien says little about poor play in latest Winnipeg Jets loss.  His non answers actually became a bigger story than had he given standard, cliche comments.

Globe and Mail:  Great at leading, the Winnipeg Jets need to be better at winning.  When you see the disparity of time leading in the series it is difficult to believe that it is not the Jets leading the Ducks three games to zero.  But hockey is a funny game and Anaheim finds itself one win away from Round 2.

TSN:  Byfuglien’s teammates called upon to bail him out.  Former NHL referee Kerry Fraser in his C’mon Ref segment discusses the incident between Byfuglien and Perry.

NHL.com:  Home crowd may have also affected Jets.  Did the home side try and do too much to please their crowd?

Sportsnet:  Byfuglien avoids supplementary discipline.  The Jets are going to need #33 to be a difference maker in Game 4 and he certainly cannot do that if he is up in the press box.  The NHL announced early Tuesday that he would not face any additional discipline.

Sportsnet:  What Kane trade could actually cost the Jets.  I’m always wary to be overly excited about declaring a winner when it comes to a trade of this magnitude.  It really is one that will take a few years to see who came out on top.  Cox writes about what it could mean long term for the franchise.  Frankly if the Jets don’t make this trade it is hard to see them making the playoffs and just think of the benefits (financially and experience) that this organization and these players are gaining as a result.

Yahoo Sports:   The good, the bad & the Byfuglien: ‘He’s not perfect, he makes mistakes’.  Have to say that it was he elicited one of the more interesting exchanges we have heard between a media member and the Jets coach since his tenure began.

Global News:  Fans take their superstitions seriously when it comes to Winnipeg Jets.  If there is one thing I hate more than the wave it is superstitions.  But if you are so inclined here is an article that discusses it.

Illegal Curve:  Jets Practice Report.  Jets held an optional yesterday but plenty of players spoke including Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Mark Stuart and Jacob Trouba.

Jets audio:

TSN 1290 Winnipeg:  Hustler & Lawless.  Voice of the Jets Dennis Beyak says Dustin Byfuglien seems frustrated, and expects Jets to leave everything on the ice to possibly force a game 5.

TSN 1290 Winnipeg:  Rona Roundtable.  TSN Hockey Analyst Dave Reid discusses the Jets/Ducks series and the rest of the playoffs.

TSN 690 Montreal:  The Morning Show.  The Jets keep getting themselves into a heap of penalty trouble and it’s costing them in their series with the Ducks. If they could play a more disciplined style, can they contend? The Morning Show asks TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.

Illegal Curve:  Coach Maurice scrum.  Ducks ability to score late in periods, is that an experience factor?  Is there something to the fact that in the games they managed to hold on to were regular season games vs. playoff games?  Some stutter steps in handling the moment?  On the way the games against the Ducks have gone all season long.  Don’t need to convince this team that they can beat the Ducks?  How much is he going to do vs leaving it to the players to handle?  What does he think of the play of Byfuglien and what does he need to do to get back to his previous level of play?  Does Byfuglien have a lack of maturity?  Does he hold himself accountable?  Late season lessons…were the lessons not learned?  Bit more on Byfuglien.

Ducks news:

Orange County Register:  Winnipeg is frozen, but fun.  The benefit of being involved in a series is reporters get a chance to venture out and about in our town.  Miller has some fun with Winnipeg in his column.

L.A. Times:  Ducks are keeping their cool against Jets.  Not getting lured into penalties (not that the Jets PP has been anything to write home about) has helped to keep the Ducks in control of this series.

Winnipeg Sun:  Kesler relishing role of the villain in series with Winnipeg Jets.  Kesler is the type of player who loves the idea that he is able to get under your skin and he certainly has been successful in achieving same this series.  In addition he is proving dangerous in the Jets zone.

Sportsnet:  Ryan Kesler – The Most Hated Duck in Winnipeg.  Guess his time as a member of the Manitoba Moose wasn’t enough to give #17 a pass in this city.  Article also covers Byfuglien answers, needed a win, Katy Perry chant, noise inside MTS Centre and the Ducks late game magic.