Yes, Jets fans: you can thank Edmonton for once

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2015 (4145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. LOUIS-TO-DENVER — Five takeaways a day after the Winnipeg Jets 1-0 win over the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night from a guy who has followed them from St. Paul to St. Louis to Denver this week:

1. Words seldom, if ever, uttered by Winnipeg Jets fans dating as far back to the days of the World Hockey Association: thank you, Edmonton Oilers.

For those of you who put head to pillow last night right after the Jets shut out the St. Louis Blues, the club got some huge help from their Alberta rivals Tuesday when the Oilers knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champions 4-2.

The Kings are three back of the Jets, two behind the Calgary Flames – who took care of business with a 3-2 win over Arizona. If the Kings lose in Calgary Thursday in regulation they will be eliminated from the playoff picture and would become the first Stanley-Cup champions to miss the playoffs the following year since the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes.

For a good take on the Kings loss, check out Lisa Dillman’s piece in the L.A. Times.

2. Not sure what Ondrej Pavelec’s pre-game meal has been of late – he’s been battling something since last weekend and apparently hasn’t eaten much– but he might want to make it part of his regular routine now. Pavelec was still mum about his health status after another sensational effort in blanking the Blues Tuesday night, saying:

“In the game time I’m always good and ready to go, so we’ll see how it’s going to be tonight and tomorrow.”

Pavelec has stopped 62 shots so far on this road trip, many of them sensational.

3. Now, let the record show that Pavelec was beaten for one goal Tuesday – but it was waved off by referee Steve Kozari after Paul Stastny, the goal-scorer, knocked the stick from Tyler Myers hands before finding the back of the net.

“I was just battling,” Stastny told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I saw a pass coming, so I’m just trying to make body or stick position. I thought nothing of it. I think if I had gone extremely hard, I would have been hesitant about it. Or if I had broken his stick, I would have understood it, it’s an easy call. But I don’t know if he just thought because his stick (was on the ice) he’d call it… But what are you going to do?

Added Blues coach Ken Hitchcock: “It’s a penalty. It’s unfortunate because Stas made a great play to get open, made a great play on the pass. But that was a penalty.”

The Post-Dispatch gamer is here.

4. The Jets flew to Denver immediately after the game and the players who will suit up against the Avalanche Thursday won’t be on the ice today. If they take care of business against the Avs the Jets will clinch their first playoff spot since the franchise relocated from Atlanta (2011) and the first since the Thrashers did it in 2007. That year the club finished with 43 wins and 97 points. This Jets crew has 42 wins and 96 points.

Those players who were in the dressing room after the game Tuesday were again muted about the win – the finish line is still in sight but they have to be cautious about a stumble after all.

But there were a few playful digs at Chris Thorburn – ‘Scoreburn’ some are calling him – for his big goal in the win.

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5. Another result of note from Tuesday night for Jets fans: Nik Ehlers scored the winner in OT of Game 7 as the Halifax Moosheads moved past the Shawinigan Cataractes into the second round of the QMJHL playoffs.

The details of Ehlers goal – and a great celebration photo – can be seen here, courtesy The Halifax Chronicle-Herald.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait