The Winnipeg Jets begin the unofficial second half of the season now that the Christmas trade freeze has come and gone. It' an odd year as the Jets have played 36 game so far thus much closer to the half way point of 41 games than in usual years.
They finished the season with a bounce-back win of 4-1 in the second of two against Vancouver, in Vancouver. They clearly had found some of that intangible 'jam' that has been missing so often from the team this season. It's why this team needs to consider what they do night in and out on the ice 'work' rather than playing a game.
One thing we often lose with measuring hockey is the role of psychology, what players, teams and coaches think and most importantly respond to in the course of the season and each game. It's not a coincidence that organizations rely on psychology as they do data and in some cases not nearly enough. Are the Jets one of those teams that are not giving the mental aspect of the game enough consideration?
This is a hard thing to measure in any sense but it certainly boils down to something we all like to call an intangible. An aspect of the game or team, or even a player, that cannot be measured could simply be between the ears as one simple way of presentation. Taking it a bit further, it's not hard to see when the Jets are 'engaged' in the game compared to when they are not.
How that is measured is an entirely different issue but because measuring is somewhat difficult does not mean measurement should not be attempted. Furthermore it's just as important to have some eye-test that says 'this team has not shown up to work'.
I would suggest that the fans are seeing things that they don't like and right or wrong the impression is very 'un-work' like.
As I see the games played by the Jets, they go through phases of diligent effort executing tactics to freewheeling attempts to create something out of nothing. This is not the only thing that happens within the games but it's something the eye picks up and it registers with a fan's ingrained understanding of hockey.
Enough pontificating Tessier- time to make your point.
The point here is that the Jets need to treat the 60 minutes of competitive hockey as a work like environment as they execute their tactics. Adhere to the systems employed, react appropriately when variables pop up and regroup effectively.
Do you want to more details?
This is the psychology part, that all the players have to know their role and action from shift to shit and game to game. So when the puck gets low in the offensive zone what does the winger do? Where does the centre go, what happens if the puck turns over and how does the team regroup when being counter attacked?
Those are the very simply things that seem to get lost in any given game and make the Jets appear lost, or disinterested, or a combination of both- confused. A look and of desperation and incompetence all rolled into one.
When the Jets do show up to 'work'- that being a consistent cohesive effort they are a competitive team and as they face Chicago tonight they have shown they can be that team against the Blackhawks. However being 'that team' does not come easy for the Jets. They need to get to work but together not as individuals or select groups.
That's the difference this team needs to consider, as individuals, as they embark on the second half of the season. Teams will catch up in games played and the Jets will get the balance of rest they have not had so far.
The details are there for the taking but so far this group has been woefully inconsistent as to when they will adhere and take on those mundane details of work. If they come to change that aspect of their efforts/performances in games they have a chance of turning this season around. However, there's no more time to wait and see 'if' or 'when' that happens, it has to start now.