By Ron Cantiveros
A month and half into the inaugural season of the Winnipeg Jets, hockey fans in Winnipeg are getting a treat to some NHL calibre hockey at MTS Centre, including many of the fans watching from their favorite watering hole and at home.
In late October, the Jets started a 7-game 17-day road trip, which would be their longest road trip of the season. Ending the 7-game road trip with 8 out of 14 possible points, they won against the Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders; lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers; and two overtime games lost to the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabres.
Since then, the Jets have lost to the Panthers and the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets and in their last game, snapped a five-game losing streak against the high powered offence in the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Earlier this week, the Jets held the first annual Skills Competition between a split squad of Team White and Team Blue. The friendly competition between players was primarily for bragging rights in the dressing room and great way for families watch their new hockey team.
Judging from fan reactions, our big D-Man, Dustin Byfuglien was the crowd favorite. Evander Kane and Alexander Burmistrov also wowed the crowd during the fastest skater and break-away competitions. Interesting fact, Winnipeg Jet forward, Tim Stapleton, is half-Filipino. We’ll be interviewing him later on in the season for our readers.
At time of printing, the Winnipeg Jets have a record of 6-9-3 and tied with the Carolina Hurricanes at the bottom of the Southeast Division.
Upcoming Home Games at MTS Centre: Washington Capitals (Nov. 17), Philadelphia Flyers (Nov. 19), Ottawa Senators (Nov. 29), Phoenix Coyotes (Dec. 1) and the New Jersey Devils (Dec. 3).
