One of the two teams from Sunday night's game in Winnipeg will likely go to the post season but that team sure didn't look like they should be going. While the Wild could have clinched a spot last night with a win and Colorado loss, they had a hard time dealing with the dilapidated Jets.
I'm not going to pile on the Wild here although for Jets fans that's a fun thing to do against the division rival but there are some issues with that team and I'm not putting much faith in any chance for them this coming post season. Without dissecting that game too far you don't want to give Chris Thorburn a break away. Not because he's dangerous, rather that he's the least likely guy who should slip though your defence and be open. More importantly you don't want to give up a goal to Thorburn and that happened too on the break away.
The other cool thing that happened is the point streaks for Scheifele and Wheeler continued. Scheifele was the recipient of some great passing by Burmistrov and Ehlers and Wheeler netted an empty net goal to increase his career high points total.
The best moment may have come from rookie and usual 4th-liner Andrew Copp when he blew through the open gates of Dumba and Suter.
In the end it was the end for the Jets but at least on a high note. The team still has three road games left in California to finish the season and one has to wonder who is checking out for the sunshine? These games do mean something, particularly to Mark Scheifele who has a chance of hitting 30 goals this season. Remember who the last Jet to do that was? ;)
The games also still mean audition time and assessment for other players too, such as Postma, Melchiori, Petan, Chiarot, Aarmia and now Kitchon who has been recalled to the team. Perhaps young Tanev will get a chance to showcase himself too.
The game also marked a fitting farewell to long time linesman Brad Lazarowich who will be retiring after this season. This was his final regular season game and both teams acknowledged his career, one that began in Winnipeg in the fall of 1986, as all players came up to shake his hand and wish him well.
So what happens now? We'll wait out the three final games and see what happens but change is coming to the Jets but just how big and where remains to be seen?