The Jets make the easiest things seem hard and that may be why they won't make the playoffs, or why despite that reality they will. It's just too soon to tell that story yet.
Yesterday at the MTS Centre for an afternoon game against the Canucks the Jets came out with all the promise a fan base desperate for playoff hockey could want. A quick two goal lead and lots of pressure with enough shots to keep former Moose goalie Eddie Lack serenaded from the fans. That was for the first 8 minutes.
After that, and two goals from the Canucks the Jets did not muster a shot on net for over 7 minutes. Not until late in the the period did the Jets re-establish their lead, one they would hold on to for a necessary win.
Let's revisit some goals though, two allowed by Pavelec in particular. They were of the awful variety and there must have been some doubt going through coach Paul Maurice's mind. Pavelec's record in afternoon games is hardly noteworthy and despite his team putting him in good position it seemed history was bound to repeat itself.
Hmm, the puck was being played off the boards and regardless of defense coverage on Sedin, there was none due to the PK, Pavelec needs to own his crease and know his position.
Notice again that Pavelec is getting beaten by Sedin wizardy, he's not the only goalie or player to look foolish because of the wonder twins but this one takes the cake. He follows Daniel with his eyes and head but does not move his body. When he does it's too late and Sedin has already reversed the puck and sent it back to Vrbata for another easy goal.
It did feel like the knives were going to come out. They did on Twitter but as poorly as Pavelec played he also played well enough to keep enough pucks out to allow his team to win with a 5-4 score. Is that a backhanded compliment, probably, but it accurately sums up how the game went.
That was the good news yesterday.
The bad news was that Minnesota got a point, Calgary earned two and did LA which leaves the Jets looking up at the top 8 again, just as they started the day.
Vancouver- 95 Calgary- 93 Minnesota- 96 Los Angeles- 92 --------------------- Winnipeg- 92
But there is one interesting aspect, the Canucks and Flames have one less game to play, as each have played 79 thus far.
Let's take a look at this scenario down the stretch.
Winnipeg plays in Minnesota on Monday, St louis on Tuesday before playing in Colorado Thursday and home on Saturday against the Flames to finish out the season.
Calgary plays Arizona on Tuesday, LA on Thursday and then in Winnipeg Vancouver plays LA, Arizona and then Edmonton but all at home.
The other variable, LA, play at Calgary, at Vancouver at Edmonton and finish at home to San Jose.
As you can see this gets complicated but the critical thing for the Jets is to win an extra game before going head to head with Calgary. Assume Calgary beats Arizona and loses to LA coming into Winnipeg with 95 points. The Jets need 3 points from 3 games to come in making that game a 'winner take all' classic. Can you imagine the old Smythe division emotions from yesteryear boiling over?
If the Kings lose to Vancouver and earn 4 points against the Flames and Oilers could the Sharks play spoiler? The Jets would need to win 2 games before the final against the Flames, assuming the Flames win two games before that, to battle with the Kings for that final spot.
What about the Canucks? They are far from out of the woods yet and are catchable if they go down the toilet and their record against LA is not something to dismiss as it's ugly.
What we have here is a perfect storm of the standings, schedule and teams and all of them being able to control their own destiny should they win. Just remember that Minnesota is not out of the woods yet as should the Jets be able to earn a clean two points from them tomorrow the Wild are only two back of Winnipeg.
The Wild play host to Winnipeg, then visit Chicago on Tuesday, before Nashville on Thursday and then St Louis on Saturday to close out the season. It's just as possible they slip down too if they cannot get enough wins and the other teams do.
It's a great time to be a hockey fan in the west but you'd sure want to be on the inside looking out of that playoff bubble. The Jets had that opportunity but could not close out two consecutive games with at least a loser point. That may cost them but they are far from finished yet they just need a little luck, or help, from out of town but are they and their fans likely to get it?