Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers (Sunday, Feb 26th)

Jets news:

ESPN:  Trade Notes.  Pierre LeBrun with some news and notes on the day before the biggest day of the NHL year.  One Jets related note.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Wheeler still spinning.  He was the man last night.  First Winnipeg Jets 2.0 player to hit 50 points.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Fans dare to dream – Whiteout.  If the Jets manage to get to the post season and secure home ice advantage, a whiteout or blueout could help propel this team to the 2nd round.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets may have lost game, but they found their mettle.  No question about it.  This team dug deep between the 1st and 2nd periods and came out with a single point.  While they would have obviously preferred getting 2 points yesterday, they showed a grit and determination that we might not have seen earlier this season.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Mason’s maturity keeps it close.  I asked him after the game (audio link below) if it was problematic facing so few shots and he said “I would have gladly traded games with Halak just because you like to keep in there and get shots”.  However the Jets veteran netminder was able to do his thing and help the Jets get to the shootout.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Our tormentors RETURN.  The team you loved to hate.  They were an absolute joy to watch as they possessed skill teams could only dream of, but at same time they were the most consistent team that destroyed the hopes and dreams of everyone in this province throughout the 1980’s.

Winnipeg Sun:  Wheeler wows with A game.  He was the best player on the ice for either team and was a constant threat.  Came close a number of times to scoring the first hat trick for the Jets this season, including one that went off the post.  Perhaps his best play of the game was in the Jets zone when he used his long stick to break up a Blues 2 on 1 and what looked like a for sure scoring opportunity for St. Louis.

Winnipeg Sun:  Snapshots.  Character-builder comeback saves day.  Oshie showed great hustle.  Jets played within system.  Burmistrov blossoming but still makes occasional error.  Focus on defence.  No OT shots.  Mason’s new gear.  Miettinen shows class.  Boulton on waivers….Greek God line back?

Winnipeg Sun:  Doom and gloom vacates Jets room.  While not many expected the Jets to continue their high scoring ways against a Blues team ranked 2nd overall in the league in goal against, the Jets showed a lot of heart coming back from a 2 goal deficit.

Winnipeg Sun:  Pucker luck for Jets.  Even though the ice was tilted in the Jets favour, it would have been easy to get discouraged having outshot the Blues 16-6 but be down 2-0 after 2.  Coach Noel showed he has a proper handle on this team as they came out flying in the 2nd period.

St. Louis Dispatch:  Not being able to play hurts Steen.  It is a shame the Winnipeg native was unable to play in yesterday’s game.  Hopefully when he is back in form next season the Winnipeg crowd will welcome seeing a Steen, once again, taking to the ice here in Manitoba.

Illegal Curve:  IC Hockey show interviews.  Robin Short (St. John’s Telegram) on all things IceCaps.  Aaron Portzline (Columbus Dispatch) on the moves made by the Blue Jackets.  Jeremy Rutherford (St. Louis Dispatch) on the Blues.

Game Recap – Blue 3 Jets 2 in shootout:

Winnipeg Jets: Chris Mason, Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd.

Coach Noel: Post-game press conference.

St. Louis Blues: Jaroslav Halak, David Perron, coach Ken Hitchcock.

Illegal Curve: Post-game podcast. Host Drew Mindell and analyst Richard Pollock break down the game.

Illegal Curve:  Jets on a Deadline.  Game recaps, post-game audio, video highlights and the NHL.com 3 Stars.

Next opponent news – Edmonton Oilers:

Edmonton Journal: Coyotes top Oilers 3-1 in a snoozefest.  When the Coyotes take the lead, you can be sure that firewagon hockey is not something you will be seeing during the game.

Edmonton Journal:  Deal means Hemsky won’t be traded to secure immediate help for Oilers.  He clearly wants to remain an Oilers and doesn’t look like he is going anywhere, although he does not have a NTC in his contract.

Edmonton Journal:  Matty’s short shifts.  Some Oilers related news and notes.