Note: The Jets were off on Wednesday but are back in business today in Raleigh as they get ready to face the Hurricanes tomorrow night. Practice gets underway at 12 noon CT and our Practice Report will bring you the latest news and audio.
Note II: The Moose took to the ice on Wednesday for a practice as they get set for a critical six-game homestand that will get underway this weekend at Bell MTS Place when they take on the IceHogs. Coach Vincent provided health updates on a handful of his players.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Former Rangers teammates speak glowingly of Jets new centre. (Paywall). His former teammates had plenty of good things to say about the centre.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets jockeying for playoff position as season comes down to the wire. (Paywall). With the prospect of facing the Blues vs the Wild/Stars both the Jets and Preds will be doing whatever they can to finish in top spot in the central.
Winnipeg Free Press: Laine a victim of lousy luck, more bench time. (Paywall). Perhaps that luck has turned around with eight points (4G 4A) in his last seven games. Andrew illustrates it is about Laine converting on high-slot shots but the says the good news for the Jets sniper is that he is still generating these types of opportunities.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets centre Kevin Hayes carved out new path after life-altering moment. A wake up call was just what Hayes needed at that point in his life.
Global News: Sami Niku to stick with Jets. When the deadline passed last week (same day as Trade Deadline) and the Jets didn’t assign (even as a paper transaction) Niku to the Moose it meant he would not be eligible to play in the AHL playoffs. Yesterday coach Vincent confirmed that Niku wasn’t expected back with the Moose.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence
The Athletic Winnipeg: How to get the struggling Jets playoff ready – The Problems. (Paywall). In the first part of this analysis Murat takes a look at what problems exist for the Jets as the regular season winds down and as they are supposed to be ramping things up for the post-season.
Jets audio:
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hellebuyck trending in the right direction. Murat Ates of The Athletic joined Andrew Paterson and Rick Ralph on the Afternoon Ride. They discussed the Jets play since December, the key areas for improvement, how Nathan Beaulieu has fit in, the goaltending situation Sami Niku’s play and Patrik Laine’s passing ability.
NHL This Week with Illegal Curve:
Topics: Jets-Lightning Recap, Jets-Hurricanes Preview, The Athletic’s 2019 NHL Player Poll, Recapping the GM Meetings in Florida, Brad Marchand’s tweet about Mitch Marner’s contract.
Guests: John Forslund (Play by Play broadcaster, Carolina Hurricanes, Fox Sports, NBC), Sarah McLellan (Minneapolis Star Tribune), Mike Commodore (2006 Stanley Cup Champion).
To listen click here.
