As Jets’ playoff hopes fade, focus shifts to important off-season

Mathematically, the Winnipeg Jets have “hope.” Realistically, eyes should be turning to the off-season and what needs to change.

Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Red Wings was Winnipeg’s third defeat in a row. It’s been a familiar refrain this season. Win a game, lose multiple. Win a few, lose that momentum by dropping one.

By mid-November the Jets were off a 9-3-3 start. Then there was the 10-3-1 start from the end of February to the end of March. But too many valuable points were dropped and those around them in the Western Conference playoff race moved ahead. Winnipeg is currently eight points behind the Stars for the second Wild Card spot with 11 games to play and their Friday opponent is the Avalanche. MoneyPuck’s model give them a 0.2% chance to make the playoffs.

Coaching for his job, interim head coach Dave Lowry is trying to keep heads up.

“There is belief,” Lowry said Thursday morning. “You still have to believe you have a chance. Until they say you’re officially eliminated you have a chance. We still have that belief. You can see it in just how the guys came in today. We had some jump and we had some life in practice.

“There was a lot of disappointment last night after the game. That shows that they care. I said that last night. There is a lot of care in that room and there is a lot of pride in that room. We know we’re going to have to do things and we’re going to have to be really good tomorrow.”

There’s been a coaching change, players sniping with the media, and the trade of Andrew Copp to deal with this season. It’s been frustrating year, one that can be traced back to the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs where the Jets were swept by the Canadiens and had to deal with the Mark Scheifele suspension.