Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  The Jets got back on the ice yesterday at the MTS Centre as they got set for this four game home stand.  Tonight they will face the top team in the Western Conference and Central Division rival Minnesota Wild with puck drop at 7 pm.  The Jets will hit the ice at 10:30 am for morning skate and as always be sure to keep it locked to illegalcurve.com for pre and post game news and be sure to follow us on social media including Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.

Note II:  The Moose had a rather full day on Monday beginning with a practice in the morning, ten visits to schools spread out across Winnipeg as part of the “Stick to Reading” program and then ending with four players visiting the Scarcello family’s backyard rink as part of a contest the team ran.  The team will hit the ice for a 9 am practice at the IcePlex before they depart for another six game road trip starting with a game against the Grand Rapids Griffons on Wednesday night.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun:  Five keys to Jets-Wild game.  Paul’s list includes: 1) Some defence, please. 2) Fourth-line oomph. 3) Special teams. 4) Behind the masks. 5) Guarding Granlund.  And Paul’s big matchup is Byfuglien/Morrissey vs the No. 2’s.

Winnipeg Sun:  Gluttons for goals.  Have to like that subheading “back away from the buffet”.  Paul writes about when too many goals become a problem because you forget about what you need to get done at the other end of the ice.

Winnipeg Sun:  Pavelec to stick with Jets.  Back on January 17th (day after Pavelec’s recall) the Jets bench boss, in response to a question about how long he may keep Pavelec around said “we’re not doing this as a long term plan, we’ve got three goaltenders.  I don’t think that’s something that you’re going to see long in our future, but nothing is set in stone”.  Appears that ‘nothing is set in stone’ is winning out over the not long in our future as it doesn’t seem like this team will be making any significant changes right now in goal.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Pavelec No. 1 for now, but he’ll be gone July 1.  (Paywall).  Some will rejoice to read that headline while others will be bothered by it.  Jeff writes about the struggles of the Jets netminder as he continues to try and fight to keep his spot in the NHL.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets very much alive & kicking.  (Paywall).  With a number of teams still having so many more games in hand than the Jets at this point talking position in standings seems somewhat moot.  While the importance of winning each game from here on out is obvious it will likely take until the Jets bye week for them to really know where they stand.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune:  Wild success on the road relies on offense, depth.  If you’d like to get some insight into the Jets opposition then head over to beat writer Michael Russo’s latest column.

Sportsnet:  Ondrej Pavelec opens up about road back to the NHL.   It seemed highly improbable yet here we are.  More on his road back to the NHL.

Global News:  Scheifele among top players in past year.  Not insignificant when you consider what he has been able to achieve in the last year and his commitment to getting better each and every day. 

Illegal Curve:  Jets Injury Report.  We got injury updates from coach Maurice on Stafford, Chiarot & Dano. Still nothing on Myers.

Illegal Curve:  Jets Practice Report.  A look at the lines and D pairs used at yesterday’s practice.  Also includes chats with Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, Ondrej Pavelec, Mark Scheifele and coach Maurice.

Jets audio/video:

TSN 1290 Winnipeg:  Jets’ best players weren’t at their best.  (Audio).  Jets play-by-play announcer Paul Edmonds joins Hustler & Lawless to discuss the Jets’ lacklustre play to end a recent road trip. Edmonds says the Avalanche’s best players were the best players over the weekend, but the Jets’ best players weren’t.

TSN:  Jets happy with Pavelec’s play.  (Video).  Since being recalled by the Jets, the team has been happy with Ondrej Pavlec’s ability make some timely saves, while and giving them some confidence that may have not had before.

Sportsnet:  Hockey Central at Noon.  (Video).  The Panel discussion includes the up and down Winnipeg Jets, with Colby Armstrong saying, “I love watching the Jets play, but they’re so erratic.”  They discuss the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team for 4:35.

Moose news:

Illegal Curve:  Moose head to the Scarcello family outdoor hockey rink.  It may have hit -17 Celsius here in Winnipeg but that didn’t stop the Scarcello family from opening up their backyard rink to the Manitoba Moose.

Global News:  Moose players skate on backyard rink.  Russ includes some video from yesterday’s skate in this report.