Winnipeg Jets: 3 Reasons Team Can Still Make Something of Inaugural Season

The former Atlanta Thrashers sit one position behind and are tied in points with the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs.

At 64 points on the season, the Winnipeg Jets have a chance at taking their inaugural season into a postseason berth.

They are currently one point behind the Southeast Division leader Florida Panthers, who, due to playoff format, are in the third position in the Eastern Conference.

The Jets have two teams standing in their way of playing further into April, and with 21 games remaining on the regular season, the Jets have a chance at reaching the playoffs.

Here are three reasons why the Jets can still make something of their inaugural season.

Remaining Schedule

Eleven out of the Jets' final 21 games will be against current non-playoff-caliber teams.

Two of those 11 games will be against Southeast leader Florida, who are currently one point ahead of the surging Jets.

The Jets are only 1-3 against the Panthers this season, however, the Panthers have lost three straight contests all against mediocre teams.

The Jets have won three straight games, one being against the Boston Bruins who have the second most points in the East.

If the Jets can keep up their winning ways, they stand a good chance at taking the final spot in the East, or ending the season with a Southeast championship.

Offensive Production

Blake Wheeler

Although the Jets only average 2.4 goals per game, they contain six skaters with at least 30 points on the season.

Team leader, Blake Wheeler, currently has 46 points while Evander Kane leads the team in goals with 22 on the season.

Possessing young talent has been beneficial for the Jets this season.  Wheeler is currently 25 years old and Kane is only 20 years old.

In their last three victories, the Jets have combined for 13 goals, giving them an average of 4.3 goals per game during their current win streak, almost doubling their season average.

With the Jets providing a solid offensive threat in recent play, they are a tough team to beat for any of their competitors.

Goalie Contribution

The Jets this season are right around the middle of the league at 16th in goals against.  They give up an average of 2.7 goals per game.

Ondrej Pavelec has played the majority of the games this season with Chris Mason filling in for him.  Pavelec has a 2.73 goals against average while Mason has a 2.30 average.  Both goalies have around a .911 save percentage.

In his last two starts, Pavelec has held the Bruins to two goals and the Avalanche to only one.

The Jets are going to need both goalies to contribute solid defense around the net if they plan on reaching the postseason.