'I hope it stings': Winnipeg Jets' Morrissey, fans lament another early playoff exit

Josh Morrissey expects this to hurt for a while. He's counting on it.

"I hope it stings for all of us into the summer, and we use it as motivation," the defenceman and alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets said Tuesday night, moments after his team was shoved out of the NHL playoffs.

"It should be a learning experience for us, as much as it stings and kills right now. We have to find another gear as individuals."

The Jets were given a first-round exit for the second consecutive season. They bowed out of a best-of-seven series last year against the Vegas Golden Knights in five games, then repeated it this year against the Colorado Avalanche.

The difference is, last year the Jets squeaked into the playoffs as a wild card team and faced the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Knights. This time the Jets were considered a favourite, finishing fourth in the 32-team NHL's regular season with 110 points — second most in franchise history.

Expectations were high and the usually garrulous Morrissey struggled initially to put his thoughts together after Tuesday's 6-3 loss. 

He stared down, contemplating a reporter's question about the feeling before offering one word: "Terrible."

"It's all just settling in right now, to be honest with you," he said. "Another year that feels like a missed opportunity.

"There's going to be a ton of reflection, as there always is, which sucks, but we need to figure out a way to all get better this off-season, because we just saw what it looks like to play against a team that knows how to win."

Last season ended in tension, with head coach Rick Bowness calling out the players for having "no pushback" in the playoffs.

Captain Adam Lowry thought this year would be different. 

"We got back to the foundation