UPDATE: Feb. 4
The Winnipeg Jets 5th ten game segment –
How many points will it take for the Winnipeg Jets to secure a playoff berth?
2014-15: Winnipeg Jets got the last wildcard position with 99 points. (96 would have been enough)
2013-14: Dallas Stars needed 91 points to get the last wildcard position.
The original article can be read here >>> Winnipeg Jets: Segment 1
Winnipeg Jets Segment 5
Jets fans were hoping this was going to be the 10-game segment that turned the Winnipeg Jets season around but once again “Segment 5” has been a microcosm of the whole Jets season. They finished with a 3-6-1 record and are now serious contenders for Auston Matthews and not Lord Stanley.
The good news:
1. Like I predicted before the season started, the number of points to make the playoffs should be fewer, based on the fact that all the teams were going to be much more competitive (pats self on back). Based on the Western Conference standings at the mid-point of the season, it looks like 87-88 points could be enough.
2. It looks like they will start the post All-Star break stretch run with a fairly healthy team.
3. The team is still committed and focused on making the playoffs. They don’t have any quit in them.
The bad news:
1. The home-ice advantage they seemed to have created has vanished. They missed a great opportunity in this past segment to climb in the standings with eight home games but wet the bed.
2. After “Segment 4” the Winnipeg Jets were five points out of the wildcard position. Going into “Segment 6” they are nine points out although they do have some games in hand on Nashville and Colorado BUT the chances of the Jets climbing over 4 teams to get into the playoffs is an extreme longshot unless they go on a ridiculous winning streak and the Jets really haven’t given fans any reason to believe they have that in them.
What now?
Most Jets fans are realists while many are forever optimistic and I find myself somewhere in the middle. I would like to see where they are closer to the NHL trade deadline before I hope for the “tank” but in saying that it doesn’ matter what we as fans want, the players play and don’t think about or care about Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Matt Tkachuk, or Jesse Puljujarvi. When the time comes to “lose with a purpose” the only men that can control that are Paul Maurice and Kevin Cheveldayoff and I don’t think either has the stones to embrace this strategy even though it would be the best thing they could probably do. Short-term pain for long-term gain. So I foresee the remainder of this season being much the same as the previous. Win one, lose one until the end.
The formula is eleven every ten
It’s simple Winnipeg Jets! Win every 10 game segment and you’re in.
If the Winnipeg Jets can garner a minimum of eleven points in every ten game segment (on average) and win those two extra games, they should be very close to clinching a playoffs position or at least be in the hunt in the last week of the season. The team would have 92 points. Now 92 points might not get you the final playoff position (probably will this season) but it should keep you relevant into the last week of the NHL season. It’s a small conciliation prize but it’s better than being out of it in February isn’t it?
As of February 3, 2016
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