Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note: The Jets took Sunday off after concluding their road trip with a disappointing 4-1 loss in Utah. Today they take on the blazing hot Blues who have won an incredible 12 straight games to streak into the first wild card spot. They are actually just five points back of Colorado for third in the Central although with just four games remaining they likely won’t be able to catch them. The good news for whichever team finishes in first and takes on the wild card team in second spot is that it is most likely to be Minnesota and not St. Louis. Morning skate for Winnipeg gets underway at 9:30 AM CDT so stay tuned for the pre-game report to ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest. Puck drop is at 6:30 PM CDT.

Note II: This evening, after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and St. Louis, 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 9:10 PM CDT.

Note III: The Moose are off today after playing back-to-back matinees over the weekend including yesterday where they fought back to tie the game on Sunday afternoon courtesy of recently signed college player Liam Malmquist‘s first pro goal. But a questionable penalty call with under two minutes to go (on the heels of another marginal call) was the difference as the Wolves scored with 55 seconds to break the deadlock. They’d go on to win the game 3-2. Manitoba are off today.

Note IV: Only one Jets prospect was in action on Sunday as Colby Barlow (2023 1st) and his Generals team were looking to take down the Steelheads in game 6. Barlow opened the scoring for Oshawa with his sixth goal of the playoffs as his team rolled to a 4-1 win to take the series 4-2. In addition to him, Jacob Julien (2023 5th) will advance to round two in the OHL with London while over in the WHL Brayden Yager (2023 1st) (Lethbridge) and Markus Loponen (2024 5th)(Victoria) are also off to round 2 with their respective clubs.

Note V: Speaking of prospects it wasn’t made official on Sunday but PuckPedia broke the news that the Jets and 2024 6th rounder Kieron Walton had agreed to terms on an entry-level contract. The 6’6 forward had a fantastic season with Sudbury. Expect him along with his best friend/fellow Winnipeg prospect Kevin He (2024 4th) to be assigned to the Moose for the remainder of the regular season.

Jets news:

The Athletic Winnipeg: Jets sign Kieron Walton, Connor Hellebuyck’s greatness and the playoff push. (Paywall). You had questions so Murat gives you his answers in his latest mailbag column.

Winnipeg Sun: The big, bad St. Louis Blues: Jets host the league’s hottest team. When we had Blues reporter Jeremey Rutherford on the IC Hockey Show about ten days ago he told us that nobody expected this type of turnaround. But it was interesting to learn how the coaching staff used their time during the 4 Nations break to reinvent the way this team plays. And clearly what they came up with is working. 

Winnipeg Free Press: Schenn brothers go head-to-head as Jets set take on Blues. (Paywall). With tonight being a family clash Wieber went one-on-one with the rugged defenceman.

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

Jets audio:

Illegal Curve Hockey Show: Saturday Podcast. Two hours of Jets talk from us yesterday morning as we recapped the week that was in Jetsland, previewed the game between Winnipeg/Utah, discussed if it’s best to be home free or being pursued in quest for top spot in the Central, whether the team might try a right shot on the 3rd pairing left side and a prospect roundup. We also spoke with Jacob Stoller of Sportsnet and Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.