Note: The Jets picked up their 17th win in 20 games last night in Pittsburgh as they kicked off a really tough road trip with a rather tidy 4-1 win over a Penguins team that looks like a shell of their former selves. No time to enjoy it for Winnipeg as they immediately jetted off to Tennessee where they will take on the Predators this evening. It’s the first meeting of the season between these two Central Division rivals. No morning skate but you can check out the pre-game report which will feature all the latest news. Puck drop is at 6 PM CST.
Note II: This evening, after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and Nashville, we want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show as we discuss and analyze the results of the game starting around 8:40 PM CST.
Note III: The Moose practiced on Friday as they look to get back on track this afternoon against the Wolves to conclude this mini three-game series which began in Chicago last weekend and concludes today. Each team has won one game and will be going for the deciding contest with a 2 PM CST puck drop.
Note IV: Join us for two hours of Jets talk on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show starting at 9 AM CDT as we reflect on the week that was in Jetsland, review the game between the Jets/Penguins, preview Jets/Predators, discuss all the latest news about the NHL and AHL clubs of Manitoba and maybe toss in some Jets prospect talk. Guests include Jamie Thomas of the Winnipeg Jets and Jessi Pierce of the Bardown Beauties Podcast.
Note V: Lots of Jets prospects in action on Friday night and here is your rundown. In the OHL we start with 2024 6th rounder Kieron Walton who had two goals and one assist for Sudbury as he continues to really excel this season, his best friend Kevin He (2024 4th) had a goal and assist for Niagara which gives him the third most goals in the OHL, after a slow start 2023 1st rounder Colby Barlow is producing more of late for Oshawa including last night when he had two assists. In the WHL the best performance was 2024 5th rounder Markus Loponen who had 3A for Victoria while 2023 7th rounder Connor Levis had an assist for Vancouver which maintains his 1.0 points per game.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Connor leads Jets past Pens with Gordie Howe hat trick. (Paywall). To put my thought into a Jeopardy like comment: I’ll take most unlikely headlines of the 2024-25 season for $500 Alex. Mike was inside PPG Arena and filed this report on the hockey game which saw Winnipeg cruise to victory.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Sun: ‘Not taking sh– from anybody’: Jets make short work of struggling Penguins. 81 has certainly come out of his shell.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins dominated by Jets from start to finish, and their steep descent continues. Always good to get insight into the game from a writer that covers the Jets opponent.
The Athletic Winnipeg: Jets fan survey results, part 2: What to do with pending free agents, best chants and more. (Paywall). It was so big that it all couldn’t fit in just one part so Murat gives you part two covering a wide variety of topics.
Sportsnet: Pionk’s career year aided by ‘aggressive mindset’. In his latest notebook Jacob wrote about the defenceman from Minnesota as well as a number of other Jets related topics.
Global News: Jets’ Scheifele flips switch with stellar recent play. I’ve been saying it for awhile. Now that he knows his future is secured it is all about legacy building for number 55 and that only comes by way of winning championships.
Jets video:
TSN: Stingy Jets earn commanding win over Penguins. The Winnipeg Jets allowed only 18 shots against the listless Penguins, which Connor Hellebuyck had mostly no trouble turning away, and TSN’s Dan Robertson and Kevin Sawyer break down a game where the Jets played “Jets hockey” against the Penguins.
