Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note:  Make sure to @ tweet @illegalcurve with your guess in our contest.  During tonight’s game you can win IC Gear by participating in our twitter Game Winning Goal contest. Remember that for your vote to qualify you must send in your guess by hashtaging (#) the Game Winning Goal (GWG) contest. (i.e. #ICGWG Buff).

Southeast Division notes:  Hurricanes won, Capitals and Lightning lost last night.

Jets news:

NHL.com:  Pavelec valued time as Hedberg’s teammate.  Always find it interesting to hear how two former team mates who clearly had an affinity for one another prepare to face off against the other.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Hoping to freeze out Devils tonight.  It certainly is not a must-win game but it would clearly be a nice statement game for this team.  To end the road trip with three wins to just one loss, would set the Jets up for a good push in the 2nd half of the season.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Great outdoors on tap.  Let that sink in.  This would be just the fourth Heritage Classic (a third one is expected to be played in 2014 in B.C) to be played, with the previous two being held in Alberta (Edmonton in 2003 and Calgary in 2011).  Would be simply sensational and you have to know that Winnipeg would be able to put a fun and frigid spin on an already spectacular event.

Winnipeg Sun:  Goalies saving road trip.  While everyone was getting down on Pavelec for Tuesday night’s stinker against the Panthers, it is worth noting that he had played 10 straight games and regardless of your conditioning level that is a lot of hockey in a condensed schedule.  When Al Montoya is healthy he is fully capable of stepping in to relieve Ondrej.  They are a good tandem and they have both been very good the last couple of games.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets getting scoring from third, fourth lines.  You cannot expect the top lines to carry all the weight if you want to have long term success in this league.  The opposition is too good and if your third and fourth lines can’t convert their opportunities, it is going to cost you some games.  Ted also talks about the Jets getting above the playoff line.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets vying for 2016 NHL Heritage Classic.  The biggest question we have for you the readers (one you can answer by voting in our newest poll) or in the comments below, is who would you want to see up against your Jets?  Would it be a Western Canadian team or one from the East?  Perhaps a U.S. squad from the new Midwest Division or one of the 18 other teams not listed above.

Winnipeg Sun:  Noel not getting most from Jets.  I don’t think it would matter who the coach behind the bench is in this instance.  As I’ve said before coach Noel is forced to coach the talent that is put in front of him courtesy of Kevin Cheveldayoff and company.

Jets affiliate and prospects news:

TSN:  Wyman’s two points power Crunch past IceCaps.  In what is becoming a recurring headline, the IceCaps lose again.  Much like the MTS Centre, the Mile One Centre has lost some of its magic and the IceCaps are currently experiencing an eight game losing streak.

Barrie Colts:  Colts run over Bulls in OT 3-2.  Mark Scheifele was voted 2nd star of the game.  He scored a short handed goal, which gave his team a temporary 2-1 lead.  He finished the game minus one and with two minutes in penalties.  The goal was his 35th of the season which leads the Colts squad.  No rest for Barrie as they take on Niagara today at 2 pm.

Swift Current Broncos:  Broncos defeat Wheat Kings at Westman Place.  Adam Lowry scores again (his 44th of season) and is riding a three-game point streak.

University of Michigan Wolverines:  Maize and Blue bombard Northern Michigan to earn series sweep.  Jacob Trouba had a goal and an assist.  According to the game notes, the goal was Trouba’s first point since February 22nd.

Jets opponent (Devils) news:

The Record:  Suddenly thinner on defence.  Looks like Manitoba native Bryce Salvador could be a game time decision.

The Star-Ledger:  Ilya Kovalchuk scores twice, but team still struggles for goals.  The spiral to the bottom of the East continues as the Devils got pounded on Saturday by the Hurricanes.

NHL news:

CBC:  Hotstove tonight.  The panel discussed mandatory visors and the topics at the upcoming GM meetings.

Toronto Sun:  Bill Daly heading to Russia to talk Olympic hockey.  Despite the posturing it seems like the NHL participating in the 2014 Sochi Olympics is a foregone conclusion.