While the Jets have played over half their games this season today marks the 'real' start to the second half of the season for the team. With 36 games left to play the Jets have come off their 5 day mid-season break to find that teams are closing in on them in the standings and that life at the top comes with being chased.

The injuries to Lowry and Mason still exist while Brandon Tanev will return to action to bring the surprising but forceful third line back to 2/3's it's normal self. Both Jack Roslovic and Michael Hutchinson have been recalled from the Manitoba Moose to provide support until Lowry and Mason can return to action.

The Jets may have the single most odd remaining schedule and while they weather injuries and threats from rivals the schedule may help protect their positioning. Within those 36 remaining games they have only 14 on the road and of those 22 home games they have 10 straight at home starting on January 30th.

In those 10 games at home 8 are against teams currently in playoff positions. After that the schedule gets tougher, not easier with a 6 game road trip through the East against the Hurricanes, Rangers, Devils, Flyers, Capitals and Predators. The Jets are back home for 6 games too but the competition does not get any easier as they host the Blackhawks, Stars, Kings, Ducks, Predators, and Bruins.

Certainly there is a long time at home for two stretches and that provides a chance for rest, recuperation and practice but it also means expectations are there. The Jets have shown thus far that this season is no fluke by the way they have played and that means fans are expecting more of them and also that the competition has raised their too.

In the short term the Jets have to beat a Calgary and head home for a game against the Canucks Sunday night before setting off for two games in California against the Sharks and Ducks. If they can manage to go .500 in these four games that should be seen as good, anything more and it's a bonus but after that trading water won't cut it.

That being said expect some rust from the Jets but perhaps the Flames too as they also had their week off at the same time. I might also expect some hunger with the Jets too as they were utterly embarrassed the last time they were in the Saddledome and hopefully that pain is not gone from their memory.

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