Anyone and everyone associated with the Winnipeg Jets will be the first to say we have not won anything yet. And that is very true. But the Jets have created a buzz with their fan base, gotten the attention of hockey people, and with every win, the players become a more confident group. There is plenty of hockey to be played, and as much as making the playoffs may seem like the easy gauge on success, it runs far deeper than that. Individually, there have been many positives. But its the inner circle vibe that has created internal excitement. Coach Paul Maurice has talked about how the slow start to the season in the big picture was a positive. Back-to-back home losses dropped the record to 1-4, a split of the next two at MTS put them at 2-5, but it was that homestand where we started to see the change. Things were discussed in the room, the message from the coach was direct on how the team needed to play, and the road to playing the right way became less bumpy. The Jets went 14-5-5 over the next 24 games, including 8-2-4 on the road. The penalty killing was very good (taking too many penalties is an area of concern as they continue to be right at the top of the times shorthanded chart.) An adjustment was made and the struggling power play went on a 9-27 run (33.3 per cent). The team scored the games opening goal in eight straight games and 12 of 14. They scored 27 goals in eight games, Bryan Little scored the teams first hat-trick since the team relocated to Winnipeg, Dustin Byfuglien had a four-game goal streak, and despite being short-staffed, the team picked up points in eight straight, going 5-0-3. On the back end, Jacob Trouba was not only doing it defensively, but had nine points in nine games. Another positive has been winning the games the standings tell you that you are expected to win. And they have done it both at home and on the road. They did lose in a shootout in Colorado Thursday, giving up a 3-1 third period lead, but that may simply have been a case of playing five games in nine days with a depleted lineup. Byfuglien and Trouba were both just under 30 minutes of ice time in that game. Then there is the back-to-back 1-0 road wins in New York and Chicago. That leads us to solid goaltending. The tandem of Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson has been in the top five for goals-against throughout the season. Credit the goalies yes, but also the defensive system this group has embraced. Hutchinson is 6-0-2 since getting pulled in his first start of the year. And since that first game, has not allowed more than two goals in any of his starts. So lets start with scoring the games opening goal 20 times. Whats up with that, coach? Thats the players in the room. We talked about that at 2-5; routines of getting yourself ready to play, and that being your job, part of your preparation. So how the team gets ready to step on to the ice, their energy level, their lather, as we would say, that theyve gotten themselves into before the start. To be honest, I have no idea what they are doing in that room. And Im staying out of it. Its not a speech that I give an hour and a half before the game that gets them ready. Theyve got really good leadership in there, we talk about 20-man leadership as well, each player has a role to get himself prepared, but also to help get the team prepared, making sure the guys around him are up to that right level. Were ready to play and have been for quite some time. Thats on our captains and alternate captains, but the entire room as well. You wont get much from the players, as what happens in the room, stays in the room has been the motto. But you do hear things like, we are a more vocal group, both on the ice and in the room, we are trying to hold each other accountable, play for each other, everyone has a voice in the room, be a hard team to play against and we are finding ways to win. All teams have games on their schedule that coaches red flag as games they worry about. Examples would be road games on consecutive nights against the Rangers and Blackhawks, a game in Ottawa after a very emotional home game against Pittsburgh, 6pm start in Nashville and a 4pm start the next day in Minnesota (got down 3-0 early in Minnesota, came back to get a point), and a home game against Edmonton after a road trip and a four-day break. They have managed these stretches very well. Our back end has been the strength of our team, that theory will be tested, was the comment from Maurice when the team lost Grant Clitsome, Toby Enstrom and Zach Bogosian to injury. Not many teams have the ability to move a forward back and have him lead your team in ice-time his first two games back on defence, but that was the case with Byfuglien. Or have call-up Ben Chairot average 20 minutes in his first five games. Its eased the injury situation for sure. Then Evander Kane gets suspended. He has 815 hits in 344 NHL games but his first suspension. So now dealing with a depleted forward group, rookie Adam Lowry records his first two-goal game in the win in Dallas. They have worked their way through being a quiet team, bench communication is much better, and with every day, the defence-first style becomes a bigger part of the team fabric. Individually, each of the reasons for success is small. But connect all the dots and put everything into one file and you have something. Now label the file IDENTITY. Slowly that is what is being created. A team that is described by visiting coaches as big, fast, physical, they never quit, dont give you much and a team that is tough to play against. After the win in Dallas, this from Lindy Ruff: There were areas they physically dominated us. On the never-quit topic, in their last 10 losses, one has been by three goals, one by two, two by one goal in regulation, with the rest in extra time. They do not get blown out. But there is no one going ahead and guaranteeing that the road will continue to be a smooth one. Its the NHL. Other teams have good players. The Jets play in a tough conference and even a tougher division. Despite the success they have had, one look at the standings tells you the foot cannot come off the pedal. But keep in mind, the standings are simply a by-product of how you play the game. And that is what is most important. There is not a lot of room for error. 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Fake Shoes Australia . - Connor Brown and Dane Fox both scored in regulation and in the shootout, as the Erie Otters extended their win streak to 10 games by defeating the London Knights 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Clearance Shoes Australia .ca. Kerry, In the first period of Saturdays Montreal-Ottawa game, Brendan Gallagher is called for goaltender interference. Craig Anderson is outside the blue paint trying to make the save. BOCA RATON, Fla. -- NHL general managers spent the first day of their three-day meetings discussing overtime and shootouts, expanded video reviews and goalie interference. The opening session Monday featured three breakout groups of 10 general managers, with each group assigned particular topics. There appears to be some concern that too many games are being decided in shootouts instead of during the flow of play. Of the 135 of 963 games played through last Saturday, 14 per cent were decided in a shootout. And 40 per cent that went to overtime were decided in a shootout. Among the suggested changes being discussed are a 3-on-3 element instead of four skaters apiece in the extra 5-minute session; extending the overtime; or requiring teams to switch ends of the ice, creating a longer change on line changes. But there doesnt seem to be a strong consensus toward any particular direction -- or even if overtime needs to be changed. Colin Campbell, the NHL executive vice-president and director of hockey operations, viewed the overtime issue as both an official and a hockey fan. "I think what the challenge is to maybe not have as many shootouts," Campbell said. "A lot of people in the game would rather see the game decided (not) in a skills contest. "I would, too, but Im the last one to leave the room when theyre doing the shootout. I like watching to see whats going to happen. So Im kind of torn in thatt direction.dddddddddddd" The discussion of expanded video review seems weighted on when to start reviewing the tape and how much time a review takes. "I will say there wasnt a lot of consensus on the criteria," said Craig MacTavish, Edmontons general manager. "Theres a lot that goes into it when youre trying to evaluate the specific criteria, like how long from the incident are you going to reel it back? "There was no resolution in our group in terms of making many changes to video review." The increase in activity around the net has also led to an interest in goalie interference at this weeks meetings. "Theres so much play around the net now, the way our game is now with everybody collapsing and boxing out and blocking shots," said Bryan Murray, Ottawas GM. "All the plays now that are goals, in most cases, theres some kind of foot in the crease. Im not interested in that. But if the goaltender is not allowed to make a play on the shot, then we should we get the call as correct as we can." Also on the agenda is kicked-in goals. "I think there is an appetite to have directed goals be allowed," said Tim Murray, Buffalos general manager. "I know it says distinct kicking motion, but (with) a blatant lift-your-foot-off-the-ice kick type of thing not allowed." On Tuesday, members of the breakout groups will report to the whole meeting. ' ' '