While the big news in the country was the resignation of talking-head John Baird, Jets fans were hoping that their team could regroup in Calgary and break this disgusting three game losing streak that’s plagued them like a bad case of Ebola break-out.
The Jets have been sleepwalking ever since returning from paradise during the all-star break. Some say the break is antiquated and should be cast aside and never thought of again…a crime that would be punishable by death. But that might just be Jets fans. More accurately, Jets fans this season.
Terrible, would be one way to describe the way the team has performed in tonight’s game against Calgary. Amateur, would be yet another. Michael Hutchinson was pulled for (possibly) the first time this season after letting four goals in 20 shots and having a few questionable pucks get by. There is no way that this young, rookie goalie is ready to head up the crease duty of a professional hockey team, no matter how hot he has been. Fans are much too quick to bandwagon jump. This is a classic case of too much pressure, or too much success. Either way, Hutch needs to come back to centre…as do most of the team.
The Jets have had the most success in the net when the rotation is split 50/50 between Hutch and Pavelec. For some reason, Pavelec is better in this scenario. Possibly it’s because he doesn’t have the pressure of being ridden like freeway for games on end. And Hutch, being young and talented, enjoys playing every other game because he’s had a chance to prove he belongs. This has also worked to show Pavelec that he is in danger of losing his job. But keeping Pavelec out of the net for three games at a time makes him lose his focus, and the same seems to be true for Hutch, only opposite: playing him three games in a row seems to be too much for him to handle at this stage.
Since the break, the Jets have been outscored (including this game in Calgary) 20-9. Worse still, Calgary has closed the gap on the Jets to within a game back. The Jets are, for the first time this season, in serious danger of slipping outside of the playoff periphery. This stretch is no doubt the worst stretch they’ve seen this season, and is definitely taking its toll on their psyche. How they recover from this is anyone’s guess, but something tells me that Maurice will have an answer…somewhere in that angry brain of his…beyond the gum and the hoarse voice, and behind those new specs of his…within the vast amount of hockey knowledge that rattles around inside of him, he should be able to find a way to convince the Jets that they are, indeed, still the Jets.
So is it time to panic yet?
Yes! It is time to panic in the streets…it’s time to sell your house and all of your worldly possessions. It’s time to take the money earned and invest in a bomb shelter; domestically built, for ultimate security. This beast should be at least 30 feet below the surface of the earth, however, the deeper the better. Make sure that you loot as many dry goods and non-perishables as possible because you might down there for a long time.
Now you might be asking yourself: why would I ever sell my house and buy a bomb shelter more than 30 feet underground? Because you don’t want to identify yourself as a Jets fan these days, that’s why. It’s disgraceful! This team has gone from being one of the stingiest defenses in the league to a level of sieve rivaled only by the likes of the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Buffalo Sabres.
The big question that is on everyone’s mind tonight: can the Jets make the playoffs? The answer: it’s too damn early to even entertain that notion yet. This is one of the biggest problems with the sports media in this town of ours. The second one of our teams gets their head under the skirt and begins to whiff success the “press wizards” (term courtesy of the one and only Hunter S. Thompson) start choking the players with talk of the playoffs. The reality of the situation is that there are still 30 games remaining, which is plenty of time for other teams to tank. Putting the thought of playoffs into the minds of this young team so early should be punishable by castration…or maybe, something less rash…but the point remains.
So take your leave, John Baird, take it far from the public eye. And when you go, bring with you this streak of bad luck the Jets are cursed with, because I know somehow it’s linked to you, even if it doesn’t make any sense.
Sean's JetStream 