Note: The Jets practiced on Thursday which was the final day of the NHL regular season. Of course before they hit the ice we learned that the team had inked Neal Pionk to a six-year contract extension. Today, they are officially in playoff mode with a second straight day of practice scheduled ahead of game 1 on Saturday. Be sure to check back for the Practice Report.
Note II: The Moose also skated yesterday as they practiced in Texas for the final two games of the season. They will face the Stars to end the season just like they did last season although this time there is no possibility of a playoff spot. Puck drop is at 7 PM CDT.
Note III: In junior news Jets prospect Colby Barlow (2023 1st) scored a beauty while adding an assist to continue his playoff production (5th overall in points) while helping Oshawa even their series. Jacob Julien (2023 5th) didn’t get on the scoresheet last night but that didn’t stop his powerhouse London squad from winning their eighth straight game to advance to the Conference Finals. In ECHL action Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic posted back-to-back playoff shutouts for Norfolk.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Jets, Hellebuyck, have playoff demons to exorcise. While the Jets top netminder would rather not dwell on the past the fact is many folks will be closely watching what he and his teammates can do this season that they weren’t able to do last year against the Avs or the year prior vs the Golden Knights.
Winnipeg Sun: ‘I want to play here’: Neal Pionk signs long-term extension with the Jets. There really is a reason the provincial motto is Friendly Manitoba.
Winnipeg Sun: ‘We’ve got an incredible fan base’: Jet engines make some noise. I’m not sure we’ll ever see a better opportunity than the one in front of this team right now.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Sun: Takin’ care of business: Ain’t seen nothin’ like Jets’ Round 1 schedule. Given some of the iterations we heard about this actually isn’t that bad. And given both teams have to deal with it, really isn’t a big deal.
Winnipeg Free Press: “We love it here”: Winnipeg feels like home, says Jets Pionk after signing six-year extension. (Paywall). It really seems that this transition to players with families was necessary in order for other players to similarly set down roots. To view Winnipeg as home, as Neal Pionk clearly expressed yesterday, and not just a place to set up shop for six months before heading to their ‘real home’.
Winnipeg Free Press: What to know about the first-round matchups in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. (Paywall). Time to get all the insight you can handle before puck drop in Winnipeg.
The Athletic Winnipeg: Scouting the Jets’ enemy: Breaking down the Blues with Jeremy Rutherford. (Paywall). An interesting concept as Murat and Jeremy provided the other with insight into the team they cover.
The Athletic St. Louis: Scouting the Blues’ enemy: Breaking down the Jets with Murat Ates. (Paywall). See above.
CBC: Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck says he’s ready for rematch against Blues’ backstop Binnington. Who is ready for a 4 Nations championship re-match as well as one from 2019?
Daily Faceoff: Jets vs. Blues series preview. Another piece to peruse ahead of tomorrow’s game.
Jets video:
TSN: Button believes Jets are primed for a deep run: ‘They’ve shown they can beat anyone’. After Neal Pionk became the latest player to sign an extension in Winnipeg, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joins Jay Onrait to discuss the work GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has done and how he sees the Jets’ series with the Blues playing out.
TSN: Will the Jets avoid the Presidents’ Trophy ‘curse’ and make a Cup run? The Jets begin a new playoff series filled with cautious optimism with the wounds of past failures still fresh. TSN’s John Lu as well as the TSN Hockey panel take a deep dive into the storylines heading into Winnipeg’s first-round clash with St. Louis, including the battle between the pipes.
TSN: Button grades Pionk extension with Jets. The Jets have signed defenceman Neal Pionk to a six-year contract extension worth $42 million. TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button examines the deal and discusses whether or not it was a good one for the Jets.
Sportsnet: Is Neal Pionk’s contract extension good value for the Jets? Jacob Stoller joined Justin Bourne and Sam McKee to discuss Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk’s contract extension and his impact on the ice.
