The Jets will run out of fuel, bet on it.
Yes it was another amazing win last night with heroics from Jacob Trouba, he of the ugly first period, and the Jets utility winger (by default) Chris Thorburn to steal an extra point with little time left. Yes Ondrej Pavelec was lights out, bailing his team out of mistakes, over and over and over again. Of course the captain stepped up and scored a goal and the Jets killed off a long 2-man advantage for Carolina. Why is no one really singing the praises of this team after this game, one that was like that matinee in Montreal?
This fan base may be more grounded and pragmatic than most give it credit for so the following information should not come as a shock.
The results are not sustainable.
The party-pooper contingent has arrived but before you say ‘that’s no fun, get lost’ let me remind you of a few ‘facts’ about the Jets. They do this David Blaine act every year and each year enough people fall for it that they might even think Chevy could be a buyer at the trade deadline. That thought is so appetizing and mouthwatering to enough people who clearly don’t look far enough ahead to see a troubling future.
That future has the Jets facing the Ducks, Hawks or Blues in a first round series, one that would probably go poorly and end abruptly for the Jets. A couple of games of playoff revenue for TNSE is great but does it help the team long term to get in and then get dashed? That’s a different debate than this but it’s worth discussing at a later date.
So when David Blaine moves on to a different street to perform his magic here’s what you can look back at and say ‘wow, they did it again’.
In November of 2010 the Thrashers went 8-5-1 to get themselves into the top 8 on the east. The team and Waddell had fans thinking the trades for Byfuglien and Ladd along with the pieces for Kovalchuk had made for a reversal of fortune. They won at a .607 points percentage rate but finished the season as a .487 team 12th in the Eastern Conference 13 points back of 8th.
In 2011 the Jets had the December to remember with a 10-3-1 record and .750 points percentage but finished the season as a .518 team in 11th place and 9 points out. During the lockout season the Jets took a 30 day run from Feb 17th to March 17th going 10-5-1 for a .656 percentage but finished as .531 and in 9th spot and 4 points out.
Now, since the firing of Claude Noel, the team has gone 9-2 for a .818 percentage!! Yet they still sit in 11th spot and only 2 points out with a total record at .525 percent. Do you really want to believe this year, season, or team is going to be any different?
I’m not going there. The smart guys at
Arctic Ice Hockey and give them a follow
HERE have shown that the Jets are shooting lights out right now on the 11 game run at coincidentally over 11%. Furthermore they are getting save percentages in the .926 area which is elite goaltending territory and you know my feelings there.
Whether it happens in Washington or after the Olympic break something has to give, this team is simply not this good. They are a group that is overachieving in a short period of time. Why this is happening should only be relevant as it pertains to things that have changed on the ice. But even Paul Maurice knows he’s not a miracle maker and did not part the Red Sea that is the neutral zone for this team.
The one variable in this season is the Olympic break…what happens after? Do some teams have injuries in the line up from the Olympics? Is there a loss of focus or intensity with some teams? What about the schedules?
The Jets play 3 teams that are below them in the standings in their final 22 games after the Olympic break. It’s a down right ugly schedule and one that should make any hopeful fan come crashing back to reality. Yes, reality bites and if the Jets are going overcome the reality that lies ahead they are going to need lady luck on their side. Without it most fans will have the same agonizing feeling of ‘could have been’ and the second guessing of another season will begin.
I know which way I’m leaning, but I’m a realist.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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