The Winnipeg Jets 2nd ten game segment –
How many points will it take for the Winnipeg Jets to secure a playoff berth?
In 2013-14 the Dallas Starts needed 91 points to secure the last wildcard position.
In 2014-15 the Calgary Flames needed 97 points to secure the last wildcard position.
In 2015-16 the Minnesota Wild need 87 points to secure the last wildcard position.
I think that 88-92 points should do it this year and once again it will more than likely not be decided until the final weekend of the regular season.
The 2016-17 season’s original article can be read here >>> Winnipeg Jets: Segment 1
Winnipeg Jets Segment 2
After an underwhelming 4-6-0 first segment the Winnipeg Jets rebounded with a solid 5-3-2 second segment. In spite of mounting injuries and a brutal schedule the team has managed to play some exciting hockey. The highlight of this 10-game segment was the 4-0 shutout over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The good news:
- The Winnipeg Jets are getting very good offensive production from Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers. The long-awaited emergence of Nic Petan as a top six forward has been a nice surprise. Although most thought this could happen, we were all starting to wonder when?
- Dustin Byfuglien finally scored his first goal of the season. Toby Enstrom is shooting the puck a lot so far this season and is engaging in the offense. Josh Morrissey scored his first NHL goal and is showing why he was a first-round pick. Josh is also showing some Jets fans the physical part of his game.
BUT
- The biggest news was Jacob Trouba signing a two-year bridge deal. After a couple of practices with his teammates, Jake jumped right back into the lineup and didn’t skip a beat. He looked real comfortable almost immediately.
The bad news:
- The Winnipeg Jets will still be without Bryan Little, Tyler Myers, and Mathieu Perreault for a couple more weeks.
- The Winnipeg Jets can’t win a key face-off to save their lives and despite what the analytics community will say, they are important. The Jets are dead last in face-offs in the NHL.
- The goaltending is still a little inconsistent. Connor Hellebuyck is starting to play a lot better BUT neither goalie is quite at the top of their game yet. For some inexplicable reason, they both have been giving up one stinker per game.
- After five years of Ondrej Pavelec, most Winnipeg Jets fans seem to be giving this tandem the benefit of the doubt, for now.
- In the Jets next 10-game segment they play 5 at home and 5 on the road.
Is it too early to talk about playoffs?
A lot of hockey pundits like to use the NHL standings at U.S. Thanksgiving mark as an indication “potential” playoff positions. U.S. Thanksgiving happens in Segment 3 and the Winnipeg Jets are actually in a playoff position but they have also played the most games so the standings are a little skewed. The teams in the Western Conference and especially in the Central Division are off to slower than expected starts. At the 20-game mark, nobody is really out of contention.
There seems to have been a bit of a shift in the strength of the Eastern Conference so maybe Western Conference teams will have fewer gravy points coming their way and maybe points in the mid-80’s could be good enough for a playoff spot. Stay tuned.
As of November 19, 2016
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