Northern Touch: The Sounds of a Saturday

The perfect barometer was on display at MTS Centre Saturday night — roughly 15 thousand fans saw the product on the ice, and they weren’t afraid to voice their displeasure.

It may have been the worst effort of the season for the Winnipeg Jets. Then again, it may just be the latest of the half dozen similar games in a season that has them sitting third from the bottom in the 30-team National Hockey League.

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Jets as they approach mid-February and 60 games in the books. The team appears listless. And they are sounding more and more so with every on-mic and on-camera interview they give. The faithful inside MTS Centre have resorted to a level of excitement and fervour I recall from my younger years as a kid at the old Winnipeg Arena — often just bleh.

Feeble attempts of a “Go Jets Go” chant were met by a quiet — a quiet that screamed “no way I’m chanting that right now.” The Bronx cheers bellowed following a routine second period save by Connor Hellebuyck. Echos of boos resounded as the so-called power play worked to muster something. Anything. Nothing.

The MTS Centre sound system seemed cranked to 11 in comparison to the natural sound. Seriously, it was like they bumped it up to compensate.

On air, Dave Randorf, who called Saturday’s game nationally on Sportsnet, apparently referred to the atmosphere inside MTS Centre as “nice and quiet.” Woof.

Heck, the most spirited cheer of the night came after the zebras pried Dustin Byfuglien from the horde of Lightning players who mobbed the fan-favourite at the conclusion of the second period.

The thing is, while nobody can pinpoint the ‘why,’ it’s perfectly clear as to what is ailing the  25-29-4 Winnipeg Jets.

Oft crime as well as sports reporter Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press tweeted…

After the game, inside the Jets locker room, players such as Mathieu Perreault admitted there wasn’t any urgency in their game. “Definitely not,” Perreault said.

It makes me wonder. Is this the result of what Paul Maurice had to say publicly earlier in the week? If the coach is willing to admit that they are not worried about wins as much as development, then maybe the players have reacted in kind by not concerning themselves with winning either.

The Jets finally got over that proverbial hump, capturing their first three-game winning streak of the season — in their tenth attempt, mind you. And once again, it is one step forward and two steps back as they followed it up with a loss to the league cellar-dwelling Colorado Avalanche — and they have yet to win since, riding a four-game loser.

Residing firmly in 28th place in the NHL, it is precisely where the Jets belong based on their level of play. The defence is a leaky boat that is taking on water at an alarming rate.

Here’s the what’s-what. Fans have every right to be upset and displeased — mad, frankly — with the way their favourite club is playing. But like it or not, it is perfectly clear they are doing things their own way. They will not fire the coach. They will not fire the GM. The GM will not mortgage the future by trying to make some wild trade to shake things up. The calculated plan will remain intact. The coach will continue to be tolerant and understanding of his young core of players as they develop into Chipman’s and Cheveldayoff’s conceptual design.

Whether it works out in the long run or not, we’ll have to wait and see. But that’s exactly what this is. The long run. The Winnipeg Jets management sees miles and miles ahead of them in this never-ending race we call pro sports. Patient and tolerant, they will remain.

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