Odds and Ends about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL –
Some random facts and a few thoughts about the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.
1. The Winnipeg Jets played four games last week, garnering points in all four, with three wins and an overtime loss. They now have an overall record of 17-6-4 for the season and are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first overall in the NHL. The Winnipeg Jets have now recorded points in 21 out of 27 games they have played this season.
2. The Winnipeg Jets powerplay moved all the way up to second overall in the NHL just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. With all due respects to Bryan Little, Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, and Toby Enstrom, this is not the Thrasher powerplay the Jets trotted out there for their first five years in Winnipeg.
3. The tandem of Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele sit fourth and fifth in league scoring. Any wonder why their record is what it is?
4. I might have to change the name of this page to Random Thoughts on the Manitoba Moose. The Manitoba Moose are the hottest team in the AHL right now. They won the three games they played last week and have now won NINE straight and an incredible thirteen of their last fourteen games. Their overall record is now at 17-5-1-1 for the season. They are currently in FIRST place in the AHL’s Central Division.
5. After looking at Canada’s Olympic hockey roster, I can’t believe Shane Doan and/or Jerome Iginla couldn’t help that team. Maybe Sean Burke reached out and they weren’t interested? I wonder?
6. Winnipeg Jets fans have waited a long, long time to see this team in first place in the Central Division. It’s probably going to be a dogfight all season but I think I can speak for most Jets fans when I say it’s fun watching them chasing first place instead of hoping for a wildcard spot. Drink it in Jets fans and let’s hope we see them here all year fighting for a top three position in the Central.
7. Jack Roslovic led the AHL with 19 points (8G, 11A) in 14 games through the month of November and was named the “CCM/AHL Player of the Month”.
8. Pet peeve: Fans that discount overtime and shootout losses as losses.
9. If you would have told me that after twenty-five games, Dustin Byfuglien hadn’t scored a goal yet I would probably ask you if your mom dropped you on your head as a child? Buff is still looking for that elusive first goal.
10. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I thought that Michael Hutchinson was actually playing a little better than Eric Comrie and I guess the AHL agreed with me as they named Hutch the “CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month” for November. Hutch had outstanding numbers (6-0-0 record) allowing eight goals in six games for a 1.33 GAA and .965 SV% while facing 226 shots, an average of 37.7 per game.
11. I’m starting to wonder if Patrick Laine’s self-abuse in the media is a motivational tool for himself. It seems whenever he is critical of his own play he has a good night.
12. For the first time in over ten years, we will be spending a good chunk of the winter (Jan-Mar) in Manitoba. Although we have season tickets for the Jets, they are already spoken for by our family so I hope to attend a few Moose games and meet some twitter friends and WHT readers. I think I would prefer afternoon contests. It’s an age thing!
13. FYI: The final total is in. Kyle Klatt (@ sadsackjetsfan) started an avalanche of support when he posted a tweet that he was starting a “gofundme” page to collect money to pay Ben Chiarot’s fine for butt-ending Corey Perry. He picked the Christmas Cheer Board as the recipient of this money and it totaled $4425.00. Well done sacky and well done Twitter folk. Twitter isn’t all bad, is it?
14. Back to the Manitoba Moose, I’m quite surprised at Brendan Lemieux’s scoring since being reassigned to the AHL. He has fifteen points in thirteen games and I know it is a small sample size but he didn’t show anything close to that type of scoring last season (19 points in 61 games). Another year older and a stronger team are making everybody from top to bottom look better.
15. Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: If you feel Jack Roslovic is too good to keep down on the farm would you consider trading Bryan Little? I’m not talking about a deadline deal but a pure hockey trade, preferably with an Eastern Conference team.
16. The Winnipeg Jets scored three powerplay goals on four attempts in the first two periods versus Ottawa Sunday night and it was game over. What a difference having good special teams makes. Overall the Winnipeg Jets are playing terrific hockey, they are very entertaining, and they are winning in different ways. They haven’t been perfect and on the nights they aren’t they have able to outscore their mistakes or they get very good goaltending. On the nights they are “on” they are a handful.
17. I wonder if “they” (whoever they are?) tracked down the owner who threw his cell phone on the ice Friday night during the Vegas game? The television cameras showed the linesmen picking up the pieces of the broken phone off the ice after the Jets were called for a penalty. I wonder if he took out the SIM card first?
18. For those of you that know me, you know I attend most Arizona Coyotes games while we winter in San Tan Valley, AZ and as much as I love their young talent I find I can’t cheer for Zac Rinaldo. I guess this disproves that old adage that you hate a player until he plays for your team.
19. Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 15-2-3 … 2.31 GAA … .925 SV%
- Steve Mason: 2-4-1 … 3.45 GAA … .904 SV%
20. Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers total at least 100% when added. (as your minimum)
- PP: 2nd at 27.4% … up from 6th at 23.7% last week. Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming!
- PK: 18th at 79.4% … up from 21st at 78.3% last week.
If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Hockey 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.
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
Use the “Comment Section” below.
*
Loading ...
I share your pet peeve. For as long as I have been watching hockey (about 40 years) you got 1 point if tied after 60 minutes, that did not change. The NHL in its half in half out mentality did not make all games worth the same. You want to create more offence give 3 points for a win, defensive minded coaches will see themselves falling behind by passing on the extra point. Think back to last year when Jets won 7 in a row if all in regulation that would have been a 21 point jump in the standings, that potential keeps teams in it.
exactly …. I’ve been beating that drum for years … I’ve written articles on it AND I do an NHL 3-Point standings update once they reach the 40 game mark …. its fake parity and a fake .500