It happened, NHL playoff hockey will return to Winnipeg for the first time since 1996 and the for the second time in the Thrashers/Jets franchise history.
If you watched the game tonight you will still be scratching your head over what happened, or didn't happen, that being goals. For the third consecutive game Ondrej Pavelec did not allow a goal in regulation, or in OT. 9 periods plus one OT period of hockey with no goal.
The Jets on the other hand could not find, buy or even shoot when they had a chance to score a goal. Was it the PDO tide turning, oh sure, they had been rather lucky against Minnesota and St. Louis but Reto Berra stood his ground and did so twice on Blake Wheeler in the dying seconds of the third period and in OT.
It matters not as another team from Alberta, this time the Flames, defeated the LA Kings in regulation to ensure that the Jets will get the final playoff spot in the West.
Is their jubilation in Winnipeg?- yes.
Are there expectations?- maybe
Will it be intense?- Also-freaking-lutely
The Jets did what few, yours truly at the top of the heap, thought the had a chance of doing. With an inactive summer and the premise that the biggest move was acquiring and signing Paul Maurice there was little hope for many that this moment tonight would happen.
Even the harshest critics of Kevin Cheveldayoff had to begin conceding that he had done some things well, if not right to guid the team to be in the hunt almost all season. That's as far of a retrospective as this space will go tonight but remember this:
it's not how you get there, it's what you do when you are in the playoffs. Next week Jets fans are going to have a much greater appreciation of what this means when they likely stay up late as the Jets probably open against the Ducks.
Enjoy it tonight Winnipeg, recover tomorrow and welcome your team back on Saturday. You might even want to give the Flames a friendly cheer while your at it.
It might get loud...they are already partying at Portage and Main
thanks to CarChen for the vine.