Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  A reminder that the Illegal Curve Hockey Show starts early today as the guys will be on TSN Radio 1290 from 11 am to 2 pm.  Guests include St. John’s IceCaps coach Keith McCambridge, Neil Greenberg (Washington Post), Jim Fox (Fox Sports West) and Matt Loughlin (New Jersey Devils radio play by play)

Jets news:

National Post:  A good, long look at the NHL’s losers.  Sean McIndoe from Down Goes Brown, brings some humor to his analysis.  Quick blurb about the Jets and their ties to the past.

Affiliate news – St. John’s IceCaps:

The Telegram:  Eddie Pasquale’s on his way.  The early season trifecta of goalies (Pasquale, Mannino and Aebischer) was not a great situation for development.  But when Mannino was sent to Portland, Pasquale seized the opportunity and played the majority of games down the stretch.  Appears the Caps will ride him for the post season.

The Telegram:  IceCaps advance past Crunch, will face either Bears or Penguins in next round.  While winter might be over for most of Canada, St. John’s Mile One Centre has been covered by a whiteout.  The fans have continued this tradition and their team has responded.  Two post season games on ‘The Rock’ and 2 wins.

The Post-Standard:  Crunch’s season ends with 4-3 OT loss to St. John’s.  The Crunch salvaged their season going on a great run which began in March.  However they just couldn’t get it done against a strong IceCaps squad.  With the Anaheim Ducks and Crunch ending their relationship, coach Trent Yawney will be moving on to another team next season.

Stanley Cup news:

Washington Post:  Caps bring plenty of self-assurance.  Knocking off the Stanley Cup champs will entitle them to a bit of swagger, but the reality is you have a gritty Rangers team that is still holding a grudge from the Caps eliminating them last season.

New York Daily News:  This series is personal.  At this time of year you use any type of motivation you can, so the Rangers are holding on to playoff exits in 2009 and 2011 at the hands of the Capitals.

Los Angeles Times:  Kings, Blues may stretch playoffs.  The 1st round match-up between the Penguins and Flyers was the one I most wanted to watch and coming to the 2nd round I’ve switched my focus to the battle between these two Western teams.  Which 2nd Round series are you most interested in and why?

St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  Playoff intensity rises for Blues, Kings.  This is why I’m looking forward to the West.  This will be a new experience for many of these Western franchises.  The Kings were last in the 2nd round in 2001/02 and lost to Colorado in 7.  The Blues also last appeared in the Conference Seminfinals in 2001/02 and lost to Detroit in 5.  When you throw in Phoenix (never been to 2nd round) and Nashville who was there last year but lost to Canucks in 6 the excitement of finally appearing in the 3rd round for these teams adds some appeal.

The Tennessean:  Predators lose to Coyotes in overtime.  The Preds dominated the game and the OT, but veteran Ray Whitney scored almost 15 minutes into the extra frame.  Nashville out shot the Coyotes 42 to 24.

Arizona Republic:  Coyotes take down Predators in overtime of game 1.  Coach Dave Tippett cannot be happy with the way his team played, despite the win.  Expect a different Phoenix team for Game 2.