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 went on a four-game road trip last week and managed two wins and two losses. I think most fans will take it. They now own an overall record of 14-6-3 for the season.
2. Saturday’s loss by the Jets in San Jose ended a stretch where they earned points in 15 of their previous 17 games. Actually, the Jets have recorded points in 18 out of 23 games they have played this season. Cha-ching!
3. It is an absolute pleasure to see the Winnipeg Jets powerplay become a functioning, contributing, member of society. In today’s NHL, good special teams are a must!
4. The Manitoba Moose have won six in a row and an impressive ten of their last eleven games. Their overall record is now at of 14-5-1-1 for the season. They are currently in FIRST place in the AHL’s Central Division.
5. The Winnipeg Jets are winning hockey games so it’s hard to question the coaching BUT I can’t help myself. I think that the top two lines aren’t quite right and the bottom two lines could use a little tweak too.
6. Steve Mason left the Sharks game after the first period with an “upper body injury” (head). There has been no news from the Winnipeg Jets on the seriousness of his injury but it is being speculated he has concussion-like symptoms. The Jets have called up Eric Comrie (waiver exempt) from the Manitoba Moose and the Moose have called up Jamie Phillips from the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen. You can draw your conclusions from these moves. It looks like it could be at least a week but that’s just a guess.
UPDATE:
It is being reported that Steve Mason has a concussion and he has been placed on the IR.
7. This is the most refreshing comment coming from an NHL coach in years. Kudos to Dallas Stars head coach, Ken Hitchcock for this nugget concerning all the secrecy about player injuries.
8. Pet peeve: I have reached the point where I’m done with anthem singers at sporting events. I’m tired of singers butchering the anthems with their own arrangements and mugging for the camera like they are auditioning for American Idol or The Voice. Please go away.
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9. In my humble opinion, Blake Wheeler is one of the top play-making wingers in the NHL and his centerman, Mark Scheifele, is one of the top sniping centers in the league. This is very unusual because it’s usually the other way around when it comes to top scoring tandems.
10. Defenceman Tucker Poolman is probably really pissed at NHL Player Safety head honcho, George Parros. It looked like Ben Chiarot would probably get a one or two-game suspension for introducing the butt-end of his stick to Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry’s mug but he got off with a fine. I’m sure Poolman will see some playing time this week?
11. I always thought Chase De Leo was a longshot to be an NHL player and as the talent gets stronger he is slipping down the depth chart. This is not great news for him but it shows that the organisational depth is improving. He seems destined to be a career AHL player and there is nothing wrong with that. It is still a great job.
12. I like Dmitry Kulikov. I feel he is an under-appreciated part of this team and I’m glad we have him.
13. FYI: This is priceless. Well done Sacky (Kyle Klatt). You’re a beauty! This from the “gofundme” page he started.
OK. Here it is. Can anyone recommend a good charity that helps families out at Xmas? https://t.co/7ENEX7KneH
— sack (@sadsackjetsfan) November 25, 2017
A great man by the name of Ben Chiarot butt ended Corey Perry the other night. He was fined $3763.44 and I am looking to collect that amount and donate it to the Christmas Cheer Board in Ben’s name. This way almost everyone wins in this “tragedy”.
14. I guess Corey Perry’s ex-teammate George Parros had seen enough of his antics over the years and must have thought he deserved a shot in the chops. I thought Ben Chiarot was looking at a suspension for sure. (see#10)
Winnipeg’s Ben Chiarot fined $3,763.44, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for butt-ending Anaheim’s Corey Perry.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 25, 2017
15. Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: What’s going on behind the scenes in Jacob Trouba’s camp? He’s been a little off all season and I’m wondering if “off-ice” distractions are affecting him?
UPDATE:
Jacob Trouba was very engaged offensively last night in the Winnipeg Jets 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. He joined the rush numerous times, creating many odd-man scoring chances for the Jets. Trouba scored his second goal of the season and was named the 3rd star of the game. In my opinion, this was easily his best game of the season.
16. Back to anthems for a minute. I think I would be okay if we saved them for special events like the Grey Cup, the Super Bowl, the World Series and the finals in hockey, basketball. Save anthems for the Olympics and other international competitions. (see #8)
17. I mentioned last week that Bryan Little might be starting to heat up. I thought the Little/Laine/Ehlers line played pretty well on the Jets 4-game road trip.
18. I’ve been on the Winnipeg Jets season ticket waitlist now for seven years. I pay $50 per seat (two seats) per season. So far, I have $700 invested. There are 8000 seats on the waitlist at $50 a pop. Do you see where I am going here? That’s $400,000 per season and $2,800,000 to date collected by TNSE. I wouldn’t mind having that much money sitting in an account collecting interest and I’m sure TNSE doesn’t either. I wonder if my money is collecting interest on MY behalf and if I see any additional money added to my bottom line when I finally get the call that my waitlist number has been called?
These are the type of things that you think of when you get old and curmudgeonly!
19. Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 12-2-2 … 2.33 GAA … .929 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: 6th at 23.7% … up from 8th at 21.9% last week.
- PK: 21st at 78.3% … down from 18th at 80.3% last week.
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Thanks, Mitch
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Well Done Mitch!!
I think the Anthems singers should stay, but not allowed any artistic license. Either sing it the way it was intended, or not at all.
bang on …. my wife says exactly the same thing … keep your personal spin to yourself.
I don’t have any problems with the anthems sung in Canada. But in the USA that’s another matter.
At times it seems the singers don’t know the melody. That’s disrespectful and unacceptable.
I also hate the presence of military honour guards at every game. Is that really necessary? It feels like a country living under a military dictatorship.