Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”
Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in sports –
Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Toronto Raptors, all curlers from Manitoba, and all Canadian athletes competing on the international stage.
I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula. I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned.
1. Jets: Winnipeg Jets had a great week in spite of a 4-2 loss on Saturday night in Dallas. Earlier in the week they beat Vegas at home 4-1 behind an outstanding goaltending performance by Laurent Brossoit and went into Nashville and beat the Preds 5-1 with an outstanding team effort backed by Connor Hellebuyck’s solid goaltending. The Jets enter the All-Star Break with an impressive record 31-15-2. That is good enough for FIRST place in the Central Division, four points clear of Nashville with two games in hand!
2. Moose: The Manitoba Moose had a monster week at home sweeping FOUR games. They have moved up to sixth place in the division with a record of 19-18-2-1 and more importantly have improved their winning percentage to .513.
3. Jets: My post-All-Star Game wish list for the Jets.
- Better defensive play from our forwards.
- Being less sloppy around our blue-line.
- Patrik Laine getting his mojo back.
- More faceoff wins for Mark Scheifele.
4. Jets: I’ve heard a lot of gushing about Jack Roslovic’s play lately and although I like Jack if I have to be honest I’m not impressed by his two points since he has moved into his “top six” role. He looks good and really impressive at times when he is skating circles around guys but this game is about scoring. It was twenty-two games ago when he scored his last goal.
5. NFL: When was the last time both NFL conference games went to overtime.
6. Jets: If you like honesty, listen to out-of-town analysis about the Jets. I always like to hear views from outside of Winnipeg.
7. Bombers: Huge news from the Blue Bombers last week in getting their middle linebacker and CFL Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, Adam Bighill signed to a three-year contract.
In more good news, today they signed defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat to a two-year contract extension. That’s great news for the Big Blue’s defense.
8. NHL: Does anybody else love those Enterprises Car commercials with Martin Brodeur? I chuckle every time I see them. “Nice beards boys”
9. Jets: I hope the Jets enjoy their break because it is going to be a grind when they get back to playing with EIGHT games in THIRTEEN days.
10. Jets: I might have to eat a little crow here and say MAYBE I was wrong about Brendan Lemieux. He has managed to pot 5 goals in his last 10 games playing fourth line minutes.
11. NFL: How hard is it to lineup onside? Well, ask Dee Ford. He just cost the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl appearance by lining up offside on Charvarius Ward’s interception with one minute left in the game. Sweet dreams Dee.
12. NHL: I am by no means a Toronto Maple Leafs fan but I really felt bad for Jake Gardiner last week when the Leaf fans were booing him. He has his defensive deficiencies but he is far from Toronto’s biggest problem. He didn’t deserve that.
13. NHL: We are starting to see a disturbing trend in the NHL where players are being suspended for plays where there was a minor penalty or no penalty called at all. Good for the league getting it right after the fact but what does that say about the NHL’s officiating? If you are a regular reader here you know my answer.
14. NFL: Why would you play a game in a dome in the afternoon and play an outdoor game at night?
15: Jets: Does anybody else hate the Jets PK? It scares me by how passive it is. I also don’t like Scheif and Wheels killing penalties unless we are losing. We don’t need one of them taking a shot off the ankle.
16: WHT Podcast: Podcast 083 can be found here >>> 083
17: Jets: Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: It is being reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins have Derrick Brassard on the trade block. You were interested in him last trade deadline but are you still interested?
18: NFL: How can the NFL basically end the game on a coin flip? That’s what happened in KC last night.
19: Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 21-14-1 … 2.85 GAA … .910 SV%
- Laurent Brossoit: 10-1-1 … 2.01 GAA … .943 SV%
20: Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers total at least 100% when added. (as your minimum)
- PP: 3rd at 26.00% down from 2nd at 28.10% last week.
- PK: 12th at 81.20% up from 14th at 80.30% last week.
If you have any questions for Darryl or myself (Mitch) please give us a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.
If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk
If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:
We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.
If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.
Thanks, Mitch
Loading ...
