Western Conference Playoffs: Handicapping the Race

Winnipeg Jets     32-21-13, 76 points, 17 games remaining

It seems like all year people have been expecting them to fall out, yet all they do is keep winning.  They’ve gone 5-3-2 over their last 10 and have been riding the strong play of goaltender Michael Hutchinson during their surge.  They have rebounded nicely since dropping six in a row early in February.

From the outside I think the reason why people keep forgetting about them or choose not to take them too seriously is their lack of star power.  Their offense is not built around one player who can take over a game.  However, forwards Bryan Little, Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler should all finish around the 60-point mark or better, and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is one of the most dangerous weapons from the point.

The problem the Jets face in securing a playoff berth is their difficult schedule.  12 of their remaining 18 games are against teams currently in a playoff position including a brutal six-game stretch that will see them play Vancouver twice, Chicago, Montreal, the New York Rangers and finally, Minnesota.  In fact that April 6th game at Minnesota may very well be a “knockout” game for one of those two teams depending how this next month shapes up.  Or perhaps that “knockout” game is the season finale home against Calgary?

Prediction: the Jets earn the final Western Conference wild card spot by their skin of their teeth by beating the Flames on April 11th to close out the regular season.  It’ll be great entertainment in a “win or go home” environment in Winnipeg in front a delirious MTS Centre crowd.

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