Jets embark on 4-game bar fight.
If you have read this space before you will know that I have cited Sean McIndoe’s (aka Down Goes Brown term ‘bar fight’ as a description between the games involving the Central Division. The Jets are about to embark on a 4 city bar fight starting in Minnesota tonight.
In fact the Jets just came back from a 4 game road trip where they went 2-1-1 to play to a 3-0 loss to the Flyers on Saturday on home ice. That game was just one of 4 home games for the Jets in the month of November. To say this road trip is important is a mild understatement.
Here is the Central Division standings right now:
Dallas 24pts St. Louis 21pts Minnesota 21pts Nashville 18pts Winnipeg 18pts Chcago 17pts Colorado 9pts
Here is the Western Conference
Dallas St. Louis Minnesota Nashville Los Angeles Winnipeg Chicago Vancouver ——————
It’s not about being competitive in the Central it’s about survival and the Jets have to survive a trip to Minnesota, Dallas, Nashville and finish in St Louis. At least this time they have a day off between games unlike the two previous road trips. The other interesting thing is the Jets are 5-2-1 on the road so far but other than Montreal, nothing stacks up in terms of competition like this trip, and significance.
Last year the Jets went 18-8-5 against the Central Division, second only to the Wild who went 17-8-4. That’s meaningful as playing against the Central is 35% of the schedule and if it keeps your competition in check because you move up and they stay the same when you beat them.
The news going into the game tonight is that Parise will not be playing for the Wild as will defenseman Marco Scandella. Losing Parise, who has caused problems for the Jets in the past is more than significant. The last time these two teams met in Winnipeg it was a 5-4 Jets win. The Wild opened the scoring 10 second in but the Jets answered and eventually took a 5-1 lead before allowing the Wild to climb back into the game. It was closer than it should have been and that’s something the Jets cannot allow to happen as the visiting team. They allow too many first goals already- no need to do it again on the road.
Despite being held scoreless the line of Perreault, Scheifele and Ehlers is looking very dangerous and is a genuine threat when on the ice. That line had a goal agains the Wild back in October. From a possession stand point the dominate when on the ice together and they will be looked upon to help open up chances for Winnipeg.
Andrew Copp ad Nic Petan are both back from injury and illness and will make the trip and it’s suspected that Ondrej Pavelec will start tonight in net.
The variable tonight will be the bottom pairing defense partner of Mark Stuart, that is if Paul Maurice keep Trouba with Myers, something that seems to be a popular choice. Ben Chairot, he of durability and stability last year has been challenged thus far this season and Paul Postma is itching to make a regular start- does he get that chance tonight?
The challenge here is finding balance with a player who is deemed some what of a holy cow by Winnipeg coaches and management- Mark Stuart. If finding a piece that fits with Stuart is a rotating ‘audition’ as Paul Maurice referred yesterday perhaps the wrong actor has lead role?
That’s another topic altogether and one that is tiring to discuss over and over again. Perhaps Jets fans will get lucky and we won’t have that tomorrow or in the post game review.