New York Rangers @ Winnipeg Jets
Game #77
Saturday March 28, 2012
6:00PM CT
MTS Center
Winnipeg, MB
With playoff hopes quickly fading, every game is a must-win for the Jets. A game against the top team in the East will be a tough one to win, but a win here could provide some much needed momentum over the last 5 games of the season.
Game Notes
- The Thrashers/Jets franchise is 21-16-1-9 all-time against the Rangers. This season, the Rangers have won all three games, including two 3-0 shutouts.
- Offense has been a huge issue against the Rangers this season. The Jets have scored only one goal in three games vs New York.
Keys To The Game
- The Jets need to keep an eye on the prize. They sit 10th in the East, and can't afford any losses at this point.
Why does the first post show Miettinen with Stapleton-Maxwell and Machacek with Glass-Slater? Is it a mistake or are they actually juggling the lines like that?
Personally, I'd like to see what Machacek could do in place of Wellwood. Burmistrov and Kane should play a little more like the Stapleton-Maxwell-Machacek line has been: quick, simple puck movement; fast cycling down low and interrupting the cycle by throwing the puck in to the crease when it looks like you're going behind the net. All three of them - Kane, Burmistrov and Wellwood - have been over-thinking the play and moving the puck too slowly. You can see it in their entries to the zone. They make a nice move to buy a second or two and then wait for someone to get open. No one does and they turn the puck over. They need to learn to throw the puck in to open ice where their linemates can get it. Once they start doing that they'll start playing with some flow and move their feet more.
What a ****** start time for the fans going to the game.
No kidding. I have a lab until 530 at the university, I am barely if at all going to make it for game time. What garbage. Oh well. Unfortunately with Lundqvist starting last night it seems unlikely he will start tomorrow Excited to see Gabby, one of my all-time favourites. But GO JETS GO!
__________________
2012 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS LA KINGS!!! GO JETS GO!
Wow... a powerhouse like the Rangers are 2nd last in the league in PP %. That's a bit of a shocker!
Early in the season I was listening to some radio show and they discussed the importance of having a good PP and PK and how they relate to making the playoffs.
While I couldn't confirm it..... I did hear the following stat early this season.
Since the lock out.... 95% of the teams who have made the play offs had a combined PP & PK percentage totaling over 100.
The Jets are at around 98 while the Rangers sit at just over 101. A fine line indeed.
My last game of the season. Too bad it didn't mean more I know I'm the exception but a 6:00 pm start time is actually easier for me at home than if it was a road game. I can just go straight from the office, and still have time for a pre-game beer. My wife gets stuck with all the crap I usually have to rush around doing before an early game
If we win this, it would be huge. There's no reason we can't beat the other remaining 5 games if we got our road game going.
Agreed.
Tampa and Carolina are now only 1 point back. It would be terrible to finish last in the division. The Jets have had a much better season than I anticipated. Fun hockey team to watch. (most nights) I would just hate to see it all go down the drain in the last five.
Silver lining though... high draft pick.
I'm feeling like the pressure is off (at least for me) with this game. I will always want the Jets to win, so I am hoping that we win. I will not cheer for another team to score on us.
But at least in a situation like this, I can find a silver lining in a loss. With the standings the way they are, I can see the Jets finishing at around 6-10 in the draft order (before lottery).
Go!
Excited to see Gabby, one of my all-time favourites. But GO JETS GO!
