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Jets Thoughts & Game Day vs Carolina

April 18, 2013, 10:44 AM ET [11 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It seems almost fitting that today's game against the Hurricanes coincides with the return of Jets defenseman Zach Redmond to playing hockey, albeit a conditioning stint with the St. John's Ice Caps. It was during a morning skate in Carolina where Redmond and teamate Antti Miettinen collided with the latter's skate landing on the upper thigh of Redmond slicing his leg wide open in a gushing pool of blood on the ice.

Redmond Cut

Photo courtesy of Winnipeg Free Press


If not for the alert work from coach Perry Pearn and the training staff along with top notch medical staff in Raleigh, Redmond may have died let alone ever see the chance of playing professional hockey again.

Redmond showed a lot of promise and poise this season and most Jets fans should feel excited about his return. Aside from the miraculous recovery he looks like a key piece for the team going forward.

Andrew Ladd was recorded yesterday admitting he does check the scoreboard and standings. *Fakes shock and horror* I would hope so. If you are going to lead you better know where you are taking your followers. More importantly if a team, person or organization is always looking behind they are never looking at where they need to go. I want the captain of my team looking ahead, know what he is up against if I'm a GM and owner. Leading blindly is worse than leading the blind.

The two teams closest to the Jets in terms of being in the top 8 have schedules softer than butter on back deck in July. The Rangers do not play a team in the top 8 in their final and the Islanders play 1 team.

A source of mine told me the Hurricanes came into Winnipeg banged up and tired yesterday and were a very quiet group.

Jeff Skinner is listed as doubtful for tonight's game. That's all I know and if it upsets the apple cart a bit for the Hurricanes that should be okay by Jets' fans.

Since his contract was announced Alex Semin has 8 points in 10 games and 38 points in 40 games this season. He's also a -8 in those 10 games he was +18 in the previous 30.

Andrew Ladd has 8 points in the current 4-game win streak but just 9 in the last 10 games.

Evander Kane has 10 points in his last 10 games.

Ron Hainsey is the Jets nominee for Masterton awaward.

The Jets top 5 forwards by points are shooting at a 10.82% success rate, nearly 3% higher than league average. The top 5 forwards on the Hurricanes are shooting at 11% success rate.

Jiri Tlusty has 3 goals in 3 games against the Jets this season.


Do any of the above snippets of information matter as they relate to tonight's game? Probably not and that's where sometimes making the game a bit simpler and focussing on one task and goal is perhaps best for the Jets. They have to win, that's it.

While it would make sense that this goal and task has consistent weight in terms of importance from game one to game 48 or 82, I don't believe it does. Coaches coach to win but they also coach to improve, correct and direct their team to a certain goal and sometimes winning is not the first goal.

Right now it's the only goal for the Jets and at the same time the only one that matters. Thus far since falling to 10th in the East and only having 'up' to look at the team has responded. It makes me wonder at what point do coaches have to remove themselves from being a music teacher to being a conductor.

Right now I look at Noel as a conductor as he appears to be letting his players play in the game and managing where all the pieces fit and play according to the game. Less of than not he is describing the tactics of his games either on practice days or in post game interviews.

The change could be the product of a winning streak, it could be because there is only one result that matters now, or it could be he is seeing his team a bit differently thus changing his approach. I'm not sure what constitutes the change but I know something has changed for Noel.

My suspicion is that he started managing ice time better and used the rest that has come from a long home stand to 'shore-up' his players. Whatever the case, the results of the last four games cannot be ignored.

It's not just win and you're in for the Jets, they need help. Tonight Jets' fans should be cheering for Toronto, Florida and Ottawa.

Enjoy the game.
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