Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  The Jets played the longest playoff game in their short history last night in Nashville in game 2.  It was a see-saw affair that saw the Jets give up the opening goal in a game for the first time in the playoffs. The Jets then scored two goals in 29 seconds to take a 2-1 lead and then force it to OT when Mark Scheifele tied it up with just over a minute to go in the 3rd.  Ultimately Kevin Fiala scored a beauty to give the home side the win which meant the Jets left Music City with a split.  Some players will speak at 1 pm prior to the start of today’s optional skate at 1:30 pm followed by a media availability with coach Maurice.  Our Jets Playoff Practice Report will bring you up to speed with the latest news and audio.

Note II:  The biggest game of the season for the Moose goes tonight in Western Michigan as Manitoba takes on Grand Rapids in Game #5 of their best of five series.  The Moose add veteran Buddy Robinson back to the lineup after he served a two-game suspension while the Griffins will not have (former Jet) Eric Tangradi who was suspended for tonight’s game after an incident in game four.  Puck drop is at 6 pm.  Voice of the Moose Mitch Peacock will have the call which you can listen to on TSN 1290 Winnipeg or on Moose Listen Live with the pre-game show starting at 5:45 pm.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun: Preds beat Jets in double OT to even series.  Last night’s game had a little bit of everything and Ken provides his insight into the game.

Winnipeg Sun:  Scheifele scores two more goals, leads playoffs in goals.   Even more impressive than the goals (which were solid) was the strength of Scheifele’s overall game including protecting the puck at the blueline which led to Dustin Byfuglien’s first period goal and his backcheck to break up a Predators odd man rush.

Winnipeg Sun: Now that’s high calorie hockey.  There is a reason why this was the most anticipated series heading into the 2017-18 playoffs and you can expect more of the same when the series returns to Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Sun:  Mason embracing role as backup after injury riddled season.  Sure is fortuitous for the Jets that Connor Hellebuyck has emerged this season as a bona fide number one goalie in the NHL with an improved team defence.  But it doesn’t hurt to have a veteran to help offer guidance and who can step in when necessary.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Predators beat Jets 5-4 in double overtime.  (Paywall).  It was a heck of a contest and Mike breaks it down from his perspective.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Tanev brings bite to underdog role.  (Paywall).  Is Brandon Tanev today’s version of Chris Kontos?  While he may not score that many goals he is the second leading Jets goal scorer through seven games.

The Tennessean: Predators’ season saved in double OT by Kevin Fiala. While the headline may seem a little alarmist it was likely gonna be impossible for the Preds to beat the Jets four of the next five games had they gone down 0-2 in the series. Joe recaps the game with an eye on things from someone who covers Nashville.

The Tennessean:  Did ‘Mindless hockey’ hurt the Predators late in Game 2? It led to a broken Jumbotron.  While the Jets did apply good pressure the Predators seemed fairly casual. 

CBC: Jets and Predators provide classic clash — 2 rounds too early.  There is little point in lamenting the fact that this series would be best served later in the playoffs.  

CBC: Jets’ playoff success opens Winnipeg’s downtown to the world.  It is great to see people downtown without question but there are still leaps and bounds to go before folks are going downtown for anything other than specific events.

The Athletic:  Nashville spends some of the currency known as experience to even series with Winnipeg.  (Paywall).  There has been a lot of talk about experience and how much of an impact it will have on this series.

The Athletic:  Jets, Predators embrace offense without sacrificing structure — and the result is thrilling.  (Paywall).  They may not have sacrificed structure but nine goals between the two teams appears to show they were willing to give some things up when it comes to the defensive side of things.

Sportsnet:  Mark Scheifele thriving under bright lights of Stanley Cup Playoffs.  He leads the NHL in goals so far in these playoffs and has certainly stepped up his play for the Jets.

Sportsnet:  Young Winnipeg Jets served a new, crushing type of playoff experience.  It is very hard to get far in the post-season on your first serious foray into the toughest part of the season.  This will serve as important experience for this team.

Jets video:

TSN: Jets, Predators bring out the best of each other in Game 2. The Jets and Predators played possibly the best game of these playoffs in Game 2 and it may only be a sign of what’s to come. Sara Orlesky, Pierre LeBrun and Frank Seravalli discuss how Winnipeg will respond to a dejecting double-overtime loss.

TSN:  Stastny’s smarts shines in Jets’ loss to Predators.  When the Jets acquired Paul Stastny from the Blues, it was for performances like the one he had in Game 2 against the Predators. TSN Hockey analyst Mike Johnson highlights his play in Winnipeg’s double-overtime loss.

TSN:  Johansen sets tone early to help Predators tie series.  The Jets were so close to going back to Winnipeg with a commanding lead in the series but the Predators had other plans as they squeaked out a double-overtime thriller in Nashville. The TSN Hockey panel breaks down the game-winning goal and explains how Ryan Johansen led the way for the Preds.

ESPN:  Titans take catfish celebration to a new level.  Barry Melrose recaps the Titans rallying the crowd at Game 2 between the Jets and Predators.

Sportsnet:  From the Thrashers to the Jets, Bryan Little has seen it all.  Bryan Little sat down with Scott Oake to talk about being in his first playoff run and going from the early days in Atlanta to being a veteran on the Winnipeg Jets.