Note: Tune into the Illegal Curve Hockey Show on TSN Radio 1290 today as the guys discuss all the latest Winnipeg Jets and NHL news. Take note that the show starts at 8 am until 11 am as a result of the Jets game beginning at 2 pm. Guests: Aaron Portzline (Columbus Dispatch) and Anthony San Fillipo (Flyers Inside Out).
Scoreboard watch tonight: Leafs @ Devils | Lightning @ Islanders | Rangers @ Hurricanes | Capitals @ Panthers |
Jets news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Big Buff back in his comfort zone. As much as fans want to see Big Buff as a forward, he has been playing defence for the past few years, a position he has stated over and over again is the one he prefers playing.
Winnipeg Free Press: Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The time for platitudes was over just as the buzzer sounded after that first Washington Capitals 4-0 drubbing back on March 21st. Even after that defeat, the Jets needed a middling finish to have a good chance at the playoffs. Instead this team has gone two wins and seven losses since (including the first loss to Capitals) and have fallen out of a post season position.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jacob’s ladder starts here. Fans are excited at the prospect of seeing #3 getting his first game action with the Jets but with Winnipeg in a tight playoff race, will coach Noel and company give the young gun a chance early? Or might they wait a few games when he has had more practice under his belt and the Jets position in the Eastern Conference is better established?
Winnipeg Free Press: ‘I feel lucky to be here’. Redmond’s star was rising before his horrific accident. When we spoke with Robin Short of The Telegram in St. John’s prior to the season starting he indicated that Redmond had become the number one defensive prospect with the IceCaps. Once he arrived in Winnipeg coach Noel and company started to give him more and more responsibility. Hopefully his miraculous recovery continues at this breakneck speed and he will be 100% before too long.
Winnipeg Sun: Burmistrov relieved he’s staying put. And now that the organization has shown confidence in him, it is time to reward them with strong, on-ice play. We saw this in the loss to the Canadiens as Alexander played one of his better games. Hopefully everyone gets on the same page so his development can continue and he continues to benefit the Jets.
Winnipeg Sun: Shades of Thrashers past for Jets? Many Thrashers fans can all too easily understand this late season swoon from a team that appeared destined for the playoffs.
Winnipeg Sun: Needing home ice magic. Can the Jets find the magic they had on home ice last season? If they want to save/salvage this season they are going to have to find a way to put the home ice advantage back into the MTS Centre. Hopefully the 15,004 in the house for today’s matinee will be amped up for playoff like hockey because if things don’t turn around immediately, it will be the closest they will get to meaningful games.
Winnipeg Sun: Zach Redmond back on the ice for Jets after gruesome skate cut. It is quite simply amazing to see Redmond on the ice considering that many thought he would be lucky to get back to training sometime next season.
Winnipeg Free Press: Byfuglien on defence as Jets try to regain lost ground. The experiment at forward didn’t last long. Looks like James Wright is a healthy option for Coach Noel.
Winnipeg Free Press: New run of Jets licence plates will include those for motorcycles. For all those who missed out on your chance to own one of these the first time around, you are getting another opportunity to purchase a Jets licence plate.
Jets prospect news:
Barrie Colts: Theoret hat-trick powers Colts past Oshawa 4-1. Mark Scheifele and his Barrie Colts just keep winning as they remain undefeated early in the OHL playoffs. Scheifele added an assist in the Game 2 victory and is now tied for the OHL playoff points lead.
Opposition (Flyers) news:
Globe and Mail: Schenn finds a perfect mentor in Chris Pronger. Cannot hurt to have a player of Pronger’s skill providing you with advice on how to develop your game.
Philly.com: Mason wants to stick around. What an amazing career arc of goalie Steve Mason who became the undisputed starter in Columbus back in 2008-09 and has now been relegated to the role of back-up in Philadelphia. Good news for Flyers fans is he is just 24 years old and feels he can still be a #1 goalie in the NHL.
NHL news:
CBC: Lockout season is in for a wild three-week finish. Lockout? What lockout? We are in for quite the final stretch as teams that looked done for the season are heating up for the stretch run.
San Jose Mercury News: Sharks rally for seventh consecutive win. Remember the Sharks who were done like dinner? Well they have rode the wave to 4th in the Western Conference. Such is the NHL right now that a decent hot streak can see a team rocket up the standings.
Globe and Mail: Why concussion became a four-letter word in the NHL. As per usual Roy pens an interesting article, this time about the NHL problem with concussions.
Globe and Mail: Keeping the Leafs on the cutting edge. Could you imagine needing a new pair of skates every 10 days to two weeks? Leafs Dion Phaenuf burns through a ton of new skates each season.
