WINNIPEG - As a 56 year old Winnipeg sports fan, I’ve learned to live with a lot of disappointment. Being in the stands watching the Bombers lose Grey Cup games in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Attending the last Jets 1.0 game, that playoff loss to Detroit. Missing the Goldeyes win their latest championship because I was too cheap to give away a pre-season hockey ticket. A lot of disappointment.
It continued last night after I settled in to watch the Winnipeg take on the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3. I thought to myself, with Paul Stastny back in the line-up, the Jets should return to their “road warrior” ways. I was wrong. After what seemed like forever with Habs playing “keep away” in the Jets end of the ice, Corey Perry’s goal at 4:45 of the first period drew first blood. The first period ended that way with the Habs with the 1-0 lead. Then the house collapsed. Montreal added second period goals by Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia and the rout was on. The Jets went so long without a shot during a stretch in the second period I though the number “10” would burn itself on my TV screen. After almost 5 full periods of stoning the Jets, Carey Price was finally beat by Adam Lowery to make the score 3-1 but it was too little too late as Winnipeg failed to answer the bell in the third period; Montreal added goals by Nick Suzuki and an empty netter by Joel Armia that I didn’t see because I was already watching the Junos on CBC. It tells you something when I’d rather watch Justin Bieber than the Jets. Montreal now has a 3-0 series lead on the strength of last nights 5-1 win.
Only four teams have battled back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series in NHL history, with the last coming in 2014 when the Los Angeles Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks in the first round. The Jets haven’t shown me anything yet that they can be the fifth.
Game 4 is tonight at 7pm.
What do you think?