Critical numbers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/03/2015 (3848 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THERE really is only one number that matters right now to the Winnipeg Jets — 1 — as in the pursuit of their first playoff spot since putting down roots here four years ago.

Yes, the franchise is all-in on a push to the playoffs and a post-season party that could very well blow the lid off the MTS Centre and downtown Winnipeg.

Now, with the Jets taking Thursday off to refuel and recharge before a critical road trip this week, here are some other numbers to debate and discuss in the final 36 days of the regular season:

17: Games remaining for the Jets, including three versus division leaders Nashville, Montreal and the New York Rangers; eight against teams in the NHL’s Top 10 and just four currently out of a playoff position.

11-0-5: Michael Hutchinson’s record following the two times he’s been pulled this year — 6-0-2 after the first time and 5-0-3 following the second. Hutchinson was pulled in the second period against Ottawa Wednesday after giving up three goals on 17 shots.

5: Michael Frolik scored the Jets’ only goal in Wednesday’s loss to Ottawa and, in the process, matched a career high by extending his points streak to five games (three goals, two assists). His last five-game point streak came from Oct. 30-Nov. 10, 2010 while a member of the Florida Panthers.

+5: The Jets’ goals-for/goals-against differential (180-175). Only the Boston Bruins, at +4, have a worse differential of the 16 teams that were in a playoff position heading into Thursday’s action.

17.6: Bryan Little’s shooting percentage (24 goals on 136 shots); tied for 10th in the NHL.

15: The number of teams, or half the NHL, in which Andrew Ladd’s 52 points would be tied for or lead in scoring. (Arizona, Boston, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville New Jersey, Ottawa and Toronto).

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197: Hits by rookie Adam Lowry, tops on the Jets.

39/29: Minor penalties taken by Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd, the most and eighth-most in the NHL.

7: Minor penalties taken by Lowry, 17th-most on the Jets.

— Tait