Note:  Tonight we kick off the 2013-14 season as your Winnipeg Jets visit the Edmonton Oilers to begin the quest to make the playoffs for the first time in the reincarnated history of this team.

Note II: We will continue to provide comprehensive game day coverage.  Following your Jets Papers, you can ensure you are up to speed with our game preview written by Ezra Ginsburg.  After the game, be sure to check us out for all the post-game reaction.  As soon as the site is updated we post the news on twitter @illegalcurve and Facebook.

Note III:  Another season of IC Contests is upon us.  For away games we only have an #ICGWG contest.  Make sure to @ tweet @illegalcurve with your guess. Remember that for your vote to qualify you must send in your guess by hashtaging (#) our Game Winning Goal (GWG) contest. (i.e. #ICGWG Kane).

Jets news:

Winnipeg Free Press:  Raring to go in season opener against Oilers.  Who is ready for some hockey that actually counts?

ESPN:  Uni Watch – Goalie-by-goalie look.  Some analysis of the goalies from across the league.  Interesting note about Ondrej Pavelec’s stick.

Check out Evander Kane popping bottles;

Winnipeg Free Press:  Playoff chances murkyBased on the new division it certainly will not be easy.  I really think the key for this team will be remaining healthy.  The Jets don’t have the depth some of the other teams have so they cannot afford to lose any of their key players for any significant length of time this season.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Putting pre-season in the pastConsidering the Jets never really ever had a complete roster it would be difficult to judge this team’s chances based on the games they’ve played the past few weeks.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Priorities this SeasonTim looks at the five areas the Jets need to improve upon this year.

CBC:  5 things to watch heading into the season.  Similar to the above article, Jeff takes a look at his five things Jets fans will be watching for as the season progresses.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets make a pactThis sounds great and for fans should be a positive sign that the team wants to hold each other accountable this season.  Will this happen?  Can they put theory into practice?  Stay tuned to find out!

Winnipeg Sun:  Grant Clitsome starts season on injured reserveIt is unfortunate that the affable Clitsome will have to start this season on the IR.  He was so excited to show his value to this team, and luckily the injury should only cost him the season opener.

Winnipeg Sun:  Byfuglien looks ready for Tuesday’s Jets openerEspecially with the news that Clitsome is down the Jets blue line couldn’t afford to be without Big Buff.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jacob Trouba has made huge strides, is ready for NHL debut against OilersThe new #8 0n the team has been receiving heaps of praise from the coaching staff, his team mates and fans.  With the injury to Clitsome, Trouba is going to have a chance to really step into the limelight tonight.

Winnipeg Sun:  With eight out of first 10 games at home, fast start is criticalIt wasn’t the pre-season just for the team as the fans at the MTS Centre just weren’t the same boisterous crowd we are used to seeing on Portage Avenue and DonaldThe building will be a rocking and the team is going to have to use this stretch of home ice to pick up critical October points.  As Evander Kane said after practice in mid September “Two points in October count the same as two points in April”.

Illegal Curve:  GM Cheveldayoff end of training camp scrum (audio).  Having a regular training camp.  Player accountability.  What has it been like to watch Jacob Trouba’s progression?  How much of a challenge have the last 24 hours been in terms of setting a roster?

Illegal Curve: Coach Noel end of training camp scrum (audio).  Status of Grant Clitsome (7 day IR, retroactive, available Friday).  Postma or Pardy for Tuesday?  Status of Zach Redmond.  Progress of Jacob Trouba.  A lot of coaching from him last two days?  Excited to finally start regular season.  Importance of accountability.

Illegal Curve:  Opening Day Roster is setWith Redmond being sent down, we now know the 23 players that will start the season (Clitsome injury means Pardy will be up to start season) for the Winnipeg Jets.  Who do you project will be in the top four lines?  What will the defensive pairings be?  Let us know your opinion.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets season previewThe guys at the Sun put out an impressive 48 page spread yesterday to help you kick off the 2013-14 season.  Be sure to check it out.

IceCaps news:

The Telegram:  Monday moves leave 29 on IceCaps’ rosterSimilar to the parent club, the AHL IceCaps are cutting down their roster to get compliant in advance of the Friday night opening of the season against the Bruins in St. John’s.

The Telegram:  IceCaps GM, top official in moose-vehicle accidentGlad to hear that the two are going to be ok.

Jets next opponent (Edmonton Oilers) news:

Edmonton Journal:  Now awaits the execution of Oilers coach Dallas Eakins’ plan for successHe seems like the perfect coach for this Oilers team.  Will be very interested to see the results at the end of his first year.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.

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