Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  The Jets held an optional skate yesterday at Bell MTS Place and quite a few players spoke afterwards including Mathieu Perreault who admitted to pulling a bit of a prank on the media.  Today the Jets won’t have morning skate until 11 am because today’s puck drop isn’t until 8:30 pm.  The Jets pre-game report will bring you up to speed.

Note II:  The Moose players spoke on Wednesday for the first time since returning to the city after winning their 1st round series in five games over the defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins.  Today they will skate at 10:30 am out at the IcePlex as they have their final day of preparation before getting the 2nd round started tomorrow night at Bell MTS Place.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun:  No ordinary Josh as Jets’ Morrissey shines in post-season.  We’ve been raving about Morrissey since his AHL days and he hasn’t missed a beat since he made the jump to the NHL.  He doesn’t put up the flashy numbers for the Jets but he is clearly one of the most important pieces to this puzzle.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets goalie Hellebuyck seizes the moment.  It was certainly a big moment.  One that could have been labelled the TSN Turning Point but he made the glove stop and his team seized on the opportunity.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets Snapshots.  It includes the following: 1) Perreault medically cleared. 2) Laine liking chances and 3) Predators preach discipline.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets playoff run serving up profits for downtown businesses.  Many downtown businesses are seeing thousands of customers that might normally be spending their evenings (and their money) in the suburbs instead they are spending both in downtown Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Winnipeg Jets D-man dominating in all areas of game.  (Paywall).  He has been a beast all season long.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Perreault feeling fit and good to go.  (Paywall).  Nice little joke he played on the media the other day but despite the drought he was in before the injury he will be a nice addition to the team

Winnipeg Free Press:  Playoff pride, Jets joy.  (Paywall).  Organizing, setting up, hosting and cleaning up after Winnipeg’s epic Whiteout street parties is an exhausting, exhilarating and incredibly exciting all-day affair.

The Tennessean: Predators need to regroup vs. Jets, not replace Pekka Rinne.  Joe with a look at the things the Preds will need to do to have a better game tonight in downtown Winnipeg.  He also offers up his thoughts on fans thinking Rinne needs to be replaced and Wheeler’s comments on the atmosphere.

The Tennessean:  Can Predators beat the Jets if they don’t stop Dustin Byfuglien.  Adam asks the questions that 30 other NHL teams likely ask themselves every time they play the Jets.

TSN: Big Buff beating Predators at their own game.  When he is on his game it is difficult to know what to do as we saw evidenced on Tuesday night.

Sportsnet: Dustin Byfuglien is taking over Round 2 for the Jets.  From the first time he laid that hit in the first shift of the split squad exhibition game the city has had a love affair with big #33.  They have seen what he is capable of and it seems the rest of the NHL is starting to regain their appreciation for the Jets big man.

Sportsnet: Why Paul Stastny was the smartest trade deadline pickup.  Hard to argue that he wasn’t when you consider what he has meant to this Winnipeg club and the depth he has brought to them up the middle.

Jets video:

TSN: Curious cases of Rinne and Hellebuyck.  Going into the Jets/Preds series, people were salivating at the match-up of Vezina candidates Pekka Rinne versus Connor Hellebuyck. Instead, both goalies have had issues so far in the second round. Martin Biron and Jamie McLennan have more on their play and how the Jets’ leadership group has led by example.

TSN:  How big of a mistake was it for Preds to hit Wheeler?  The Preds had control of Game 3, and had quieted the Winnipeg crowd before Auston Watson laid a check on Jets captain Blake Wheeler. How big of a mistake was that for Nashville? The TH panel weighs-in.

Sportsnet:  Jets’ home crowd altering series against Predators. Elliotte Friedman joins Tim and Sid to talk about Tom Wilson’s play against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Winnipeg Jets using their home crowd to rally and beat the Nashville Predators.

Sportsnet:  Laine’s deceptive release very similar to Mario Lemieux. HC at Noon discussion on Patrik Laine not quite kicking it into high gear yet in this series vs. the Predators, and comparing his amazing, deceptive shot release to that of Mario Lemieux’s.

Sportsnet:  Hirsch’s constructive criticism for Connor Hellebuyck. NHL insider and former NHL goalie Corey Hirsch displays on Sportsnet Central how Connor Hellebuyck can be more aggressive in his net, and improve his game.

Jets audio:

TSN 1290 Winnipeg: There’s nobody like Byfuglien in the NHL.  TSN 1290 Winnipeg Jets play-by-play voice Dennis Beyak joined Andrew Paterson and Rick Ralph on the Afternoon Ride. They discussed the Jets comeback Game 3 win vs. Nashville, Byfuglien’s performance, Paul Maurice’s line juggling in the playoffs, how Mathieu Perreault’s return will change the look of the Jets.

TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Perreault return would make Jets matchup-proof.  Murat Ates of The Athletic joined Andrew Paterson and Rick Ralph on the Afternoon Ride. They discussed the Jets incredible comeback win in Game 3 over Nashville, Paul Maurice’s switch of Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor, how Mathieu Perreault’s return changes the Jets lineup and the performance of Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba.

TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Byfuglien is putting on one heck of a show.  Former NHL defenseman Jamie Rivers joined Andrew Paterson and Rick Ralph on the Afternoon Ride. They discuss the atmosphere in Winnipeg for the Jets playoff run, the Jets comeback in Game 3 vs. Nashville, Dustin Byfuglien’s dominating performance.

TSN 1150 Hamilton:  Predators, Jets is the best series I’ve seen in years.  TSN NHL insider Pierre LeBrun joins TSN 1150’s Tatti and Louie B to discuss the Winnipeg Jets taking Game 3 over the Nashville Predators, how Kevin Cheveldeyoff’s patience is paying off, the Jets’ Stanley Cup chances and more.

TSN 1150 Hamilton:  Byfuglien can take over a game with his unique skillset.  TSN Winnipeg reporter Sara Orlesky joins TSN 1150’s Tatti and Louie B to discuss the Winnipeg Jet going up 2-1 on the Nashville Predators, why Dustin Byfuglien doesn’t embrace the limelight, why the Jets have flown under the radar.

Moose news:

Winnipeg Free Press:  Moose to battle it out with the ‘Hogs in round two of AHL playoffs.  (Paywall).  Mike sets up the upcoming series that will see the local AHL team look to continue to have success in the spring just like the parent club.

Moose audio:

TSN 1290 Winnipeg:  It’s great for Winnipeg to have two teams in the playoffs.  Moose forward Brendan Lemieux joined Andrew Paterson and Rick Ralph on the Afternoon Ride. They discussed the Moose’s series win in Game 5 vs. Grand Rapids, controlling emotions in the playoffs, Eric Comrie’s performance in the playoffs, how Skyler McKenzie has integrated into the roster and the upcoming series vs. Rockford.