Jets show no love in win over top-ranked Canadiens

For a team the Winnipeg Jets see just twice in an 82-game season, there sure seems to be a lot of built up hostility for the Montreal Canadiens.

That sentiment hit a boiling point Thursday night as the Jets battled for every inch of ice, pushing and grinding their way to a convincing 5-2 win over the Canadiens in front of a packed house at MTS Centre, many of whom donned Habs red.

Perhaps some of the angst had to do with the challenge of knowing a lacklustre effort wouldn't work against a Canadiens team that heading into the game had the NHL’s best record.

It’s possible it was retribution from the Jets 3-0 loss to the Canadiens earlier in the year in a game that also had its fair share of animosity. 

Or maybe it was the fact that Montreal was just the latest obstacle standing in front of a Jets team on the verge of earning its first postseason berth in four seasons since arriving in Winnipeg.

“I think that’s just the way we play,” said Jets forward Mark Scheifele, who finished the game with a goal and an assist for his tenth multipoint game of the year. “They’re a hard working team. They want to win just as badly as we do. In a game like that it’s going to get rough and it’s going to get physical but we’re comfortable in that game.”

Tough 20 minutes 

That wasn’t exactly the case in the opening 20 minutes.

In the first period the Jets were grossly outworked, outplayed and outshot 20-5, but still managed to squeak out with a 1-0 edge.

Just don’t tell Jets’ defenceman Dustin Byfuglien that. 

“We didn't even know they had that many shots,” said a cheeky and confident Byfuglien, who made his return to the lineup after missing nine games with an upper-body injury. “It felt like they had five. We felt like we were in control.”

Jets coach Paul Maurice was asked if he felt the same way as his all-star defenceman.

“Wow,” said Maurice, causing a majority of the media room to burst out in a fit of laughter. “That’s the power of positive thinking right there.”

As funny as the comment was by Byfuglien, in many ways he’s right that the Jets are in control. Most notably, they’re in control of their own destiny.

The Jets have just seven games remaining on the schedule to determine whether or not they’ll be a playoff team come mid-April. And although this situation may feel eerily similar to the three seasons before it, in reality it’s much different.

Never before have the Jets been in this type of position, this late in to a season.

In the previous three years the Jets were on the outside looking in, having to fight their way in to a playoff spot only to have their efforts fall short each year.

This season Winnipeg has the chance to defend their position as sole owners of the final playoff wild card spot in the Western Conference — a lead of just three points over the Calgary Flames who still have one game in hand.

Hockey analysts suggest the Jets will need to reach 96 points in the standings to ensure a playoff berth in the mighty west, meaning Winnipeg will need to win at least three of their next seven remaining games.

The bad news is what’s left on the Jets’ schedule isn’t exactly kind, with games against the likes of the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. 

The good news is four of the next seven games will be played on home ice where the Jets have played their best hockey the last couple of months.

With the win against Montreal, the Jets have now picked up points in 14 of their last 16 games at home, posting a record of 12-2-2 during that stretch. Winnipeg has won the last four games at MTS Centre by a combined score of 15-5.

The Jets play three more games this week at home including tilts against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, the New York Rangers on Tuesday and the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Winnipeg’s final game at MTS Centre is a date with the Calgary Flames on Apr. 11, the last game of the regular season.

Pavelec shines

A big part of that success has been the play of Ondrej Pavelec, who once again was asked to stand on his head. And he delivered, finishing the game with 39 saves to earn his sixth consecutive win.

“It wasn’t the first period we wanted but we survived,” said Pavelec. “We found a way to beat one of the best teams in the NHL right now, so, I think that we should feel pretty good about ourselves.”

Pavelec has proven just how quickly one can go from goat to god in just a matter of weeks. A month ago many Jets fans would have chipped in to buy his ticket out of town but on Thursday it was another game where fans were singing his praises.

“I’m happy I can help the team to get the win and that’s all that matters right now,” added Pavelec. “Really I don’t want to talk about myself. It’s a team sport and we found a way (together to win).”

Gordie Howe hat trick

It’s not often forward Jim Slater finds himself on the score sheet so it was no surprise that after a night where the Jets’ gritty fourth-liner finished with a goal, an assist and a fight — known as the Gordie Howe hat trick — Slater was all smiles as he was greeted by a group of reporters after the game.

“At least I can say I have one now,” said Slater. “It’s nice to get for sure, especially in a win.”

It was just the second multipoint game for Slater in the past three seasons and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Slater started the night with an assist on Byfuglien’s first period goal, made it 3-1 for Winnipeg after redirecting a shot with his skate in the second, and completed the trick by dropping the gloves with Canadiens’ defencman Nathan Bealieu.