Note: Make sure to @ tweet @illegalcurve with your guess during tonight’s game you can win IC Gear by participating in our twitter Game Winning Goal and 50/50 contests. Remember that for your vote to qualify you must send in your guess by hashtaging (#) our Game Winning Goal (GWG) contest and 50/50. (i.e. #ICGWG Birthday Boy Ron Hainsey who turns 32 today and #IC5050 $44,575).
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets Silver Linings Playbook. Just as coach Noel couldn’t allow his team to get too high after wins over the Leafs and Rangers last week, he similarly cannot allow them to get too low after consecutive losses to Washington.
Winnipeg Free Press: Booooo! Hisssss! Jets heard it all. There is nothing wrong with fans booing poor play. They cannot always be cheering, especially if the play on the ice doesn’t merit same.
Winnipeg Free Press: Noel opts for peace over punishment. Similar to horse racing you cannot be all whip all the time. You have to know when it is appropriate and when it is not. Coach Noel knows he cannot be doom and gloom all the time or else the players will just become accustomed to this and tune him out.
Winnipeg Sun: Noel give Jets day off to recharge batteries. The importance of managing energy levels during this shortened season cannot be understated. While the players are professionals, when you put your body through the rigors of an NHL schedule you need a certain amount of time to recover and due to the condensed schedule this has become difficult.
Winnipeg Sun: Unhappy fans let Jets have it. When Jets fans head for the hills with over five minutes to go in the 3rd period, you know they are not a happy bunch. Players did not expect that the honeymoon phase would last forever and fans in Winnipeg are too knowledgeable to put up with poor effort.
Winnipeg Sun: Enstrom to the rescue. He cannot turn that corner soon enough for Jets fans.
Opponent (Lightning) news:
Tampa Bay Times: Coach Guy Boucher fired. A real shame since he was one of the most personable coaches in the NHL. Will be interesting to see what type of impact this has on the team in Winnipeg tonight.
Tampa Bay Times: Nate Thompson signed to 4-year extension. The Bolts felt they needed to secure his services long term.
Illegal Curve Hockey Show Replay:
Part 1: Recap of last night’s Capitals 6-1 victory over the Jets. Ondrej Pavelec’s workload and line combinations. The Jets remaining schedule. Southeast Division schedule. Olli Jokinen’s production on the power play (or lack thereof). What to do with Alex Burmistrov.
Part 2: Would you trade Ron Hainsey if; the Jets were 3rd in the conference, 8th in the conference, within 2 points of a playoff spot, more than 3 points outside a playoff spot? Interview with Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. Interview with Mark Guy of Newport Sports Management (Corey Perry’s agent). Players who might be dealt at the trade deadline. The market for goalies at the trade deadline. Rapid Fire: Suspensions. Cheers & Jeers.
