Thanks Atlanta: Sincerely, Jets fans

Opinion

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This article was published 11/04/2015 (3826 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five takeaways from the Winnipeg Jets 1-0 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Denver Thursday night — a game in which the club captured its first playoff spot since 2007 — from a guy who followed them from St. Paul to St. Louis to Denver and home this week:

1. Crazy scene in the Pepsi Center press box during the final moments of the Jets shootout loss to the Avs Thursday. At almost the same time as the Jets were securing a point, the Los Angeles Kings were falling 3-1 to the Calgary Flames. That result meant both the Jets and Flames had their playoff tickets punched in the span of a few minutes. Tweeted Chris Mayberry (@maybo01):

“Hi Atlanta! Your two hockey franchises clinched playoff spots at exactly the same time.”

Strange, but true: The old Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames and the old Atlanta Thrashers are now the Jets.

Later, a couple of Winnipeg journos were chatting with a lady on a hotel elevator. During our brief conversation she revealed she was from Atlanta and, after finding out what we did for a living and aware of the Jets score, said “Sorry for your loss.”

Our loss? Sorry for your loss, Atlanta. Winnipeg hockey fans thank you. Ditto for those in Calgary.

2. So, about the Whiteout idea… if there was ever any doubt about whether the Jets 2.0 ownership group would embrace a concept from the previous incarnation of the franchise, it was completely wiped out when the playoff spot became official. That’s when the Jets official Twitter account sent out this:

“Winnipeg Jets clinch 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs berth. #WPGWhiteout”

Interestingly, the Winnipeg Whiteout topic came up before Thursday’s game — should they or shouldn’t they — when this question was asked: “Won’t it look goofy if everyone at MTS Centre is dressed in white but the Jets are wearing their customary blue home jerseys?”

The Jets won’t ask the league to wear white at home — a team spokesperson said what they have planned is “a different look to a new kind of wearing white” — but that tease is of little matter. Face it, Game 3 in downtown Winnipeg is going to be nuts whether the Jets are in blue, white, camo or wearing tutus.

3. My favourite post-game quote out of the dressing room late Thursday after the Jets had clinched came from Andrew Ladd. Said the Jets captain: “I really believe in the group so you don’t want to waste the opportunity of not getting in. Now we feel like we’re healthy, we’ve got everybody back in the lineup and we’re clicking on all cylinders.

“We did a helluva job just to get in. But we’re not satisfied with just getting in. That’s the exciting prospect for me.”

That’s the intriguing thing about this hockey team: Now it has secured a playoff spot — the pursuit of which has been in desperation mode for weeks now — it’s clear they won’t be taking the “just happy to be here” approach to the Stanley Cup tournament.

The consensus around the NHL is the Jets are going to be a nasty first-round opponent because of their size, speed and depth, although that could be affected again if Mathieu Perreault is hurt. The Jets will give either Anaheim or St. Louis a good run in Round 1.

4. A fact I wasn’t aware of until flying home Friday morning: Stan Kroeneke, the billionaire owner of the Avs — as well as the St. Louis Rams (which he is attempting to move to L.A.) Arsenal, the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Rapids of the MLS — has a 12,000 square-foot penthouse apartment on the top two floors of the Pepsi Center, complete with a theatre and gym.

Wonder how happy he was — or if he even batted an eye — to see all those empty seats in his “basement” during the Jets-Avs game Thursday.

5. And, finally, hands up if you predicted a month ago that Ondrej Pavelec would be leading the Jets into the post-season — and reclaiming the No. 1 goaltending gig in the process — after that Barret Jackman goal from outside the blue-line in St. Louis.

Funny thing about Pavelec: as good as he’s been of late — a 10-2 record down the stretch and three shutouts in the past week — there seems to be a certain segment of Jets Nation that is waiting, check that, expecting regression is to soon follow.

A headline we spotted from early in the week that might just sum up that kind of thinking: ‘Ondrej Pavelec leading the Jets, but do you trust him?’

Some never will. But he’s undoubtedly won back many fans this week. Sometimes it’s OK to put the blinders on and live in the moment.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait