Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note: Following today’s Jets Papers, you can ensure you are up to speed with our game set-up 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 notify you via twitter @illegalcurve and Facebook.

Note II: For home games we have both our #ICGWG and #IC5050 contests. Make sure to @ tweet @illegalcurve with your guess. Remember that for your vote to qualify you must send in your guess using a hashtag (#). (i.e. #ICGWG Ladd & #IC5050 $34,250.00).

Note III:  With today being a 1 pm start time for the Jets and Oilers at MTS Centre the Illegal Curve Hockey Show will be starting at 7 am until 10 am (CST) on TSN 1290 Winnipeg.  Guests:  John Forslund (Play by Play voice of Carolina Hurricanes) and Slava Malamud (Sports Express).

Jets news:

Winnipeg Free Press:  The numbers don’t lie.  And they have not been kind to Ondrej Pavelec.  While his defence hasn’t always been first rate there is clearly no question that the Jets goalie need to be better.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Movin’ on up.  Coach Maurice alluded to fact that they used statistical analysis to put that line together but didn’t expand upon it much more than that.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Buff can’t help but be beguiling.  He has helped to balance out the lines and give the Jets more scoring help up front.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Maurice sees similarities in Jets, Oilers.  The Jets are still looking to pay back the Oilers for a 6-2 loss in Edmonton back on December 23rd in which there was a lot of post-whistle festivities and Nail Yakupov gave Pavelec a little head shot.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets this Week (video).  Ed Tait and Tim Campbell share their thoughts on the coaching change, Dustin Byfuglien at forward and who may benefit the most from a new coach.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets find playing solid defence produces winning results.  Having a better transition from defence to offence has had a major impact during the past couple of games.  Of course we shall see what happens next week when the Jets head to Cali to play Anaheim and L.A.. then play Toronto and Chicago.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets won’t get to Nail Yakupov and other notes.  Jets and fans were irate when the first overall pick nailed Ondrej Pavelec back on December 23rd in Edmonton.  Ken also discusses the injury to Grant Clitsome and Klingberg being returned to the AHL.

Winnipeg Sun:  It’s tough to be a fan of the Jets, Oilers and Flames these days.  It is clearly not easy being a fan of any of these three teams in the last little bit.  The Oilers have the most fan fare with all those top picks but don’t say that too loudly in Oil country.

SI.com:  Jets fans rank no. 10 in fan misery.  Further to the above article SI ranks fan misery across the NHL and Jets fans you’ve made the top 10.  They look at the trademark torment, the most notorious moments in the franchise (3 of 5 are Thrashers based), current misfortune, in the system and better days ahead?

TSN:  Hustler & Lawless (audio).  Pierre LeBrun joined the show on Thursday to discuss the impact that coach Paul Maurice will make on the Jets culture.

Illegal Curve:  Coach Maurice scrum.  Generating offence from the defence.  Struggling in day games.  On his relationship with Dallas Eakins.  His relationship with former Oilers coach Ralph Krueger.  How did he arrive at Frolik with Ladd/Little?  Being back in the NHL and KHL talk.  His relationship with Mike Keenan.  Oilers talk.  Jets team speed.

Oilers news:

Edmonton Journal:  Ales Hemsky’s status in doubt.  A tough loss for the Oilers.

Edmonton Sun:  Defence is a work in progress for the Oilers, with little sign of actual progress.  If you think the Jets D has problems go check out what is happening in Edmonton for real issues.