So here we are, just days before the holidays, when the NHL takes three days off to allow everyone to spend time with friends and family.
But before that break, the Winnipeg Jets could face their most important weekend of the season so far – and we could get a real sense of what the game will be like. Jets really are.
Are they a reasonable facsimile of the 15-1 Jets? Or are they closer to the 8-9-1 Jets who were dominated in Anaheim, Calif., on Wednesday?
The next two games will be against NHL heavyweights. Saturday night at home against Minnesota and Monday afternoon in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. If this team is able to win both games, then many will root for the Jets.
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If they lose both, that would mean three straight losses — and that definitely wouldn’t be the way you’d want to celebrate the holiday.
Much of the funk that has surrounded Winnipeg may evaporate with quality games against Minnesota and Toronto. But it won’t be easy… Boldy, Hartman, Kaprizov one day… then Matthews, Marner, Nylander two days later.
But for the moment it is not about the adversary. It’s the Jets. Besides Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck and Josh Morrissey played. It was the mental errors at the wrong time (like 26 seconds left) that hurt the most.
And while it appears the power play has returned to its early-season form, it’s the attention to detail – the speed, the forecheck, the intensity – that eludes this team.
And it’s really fascinating to talk about which team is at the top of the NHL standings facing a make-or-break weekend, but that just might be the case.
Now is definitely not the time to panic, but a few wins would certainly calm many of those nerves.
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