\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Jets coach Scott Arniel knows a near-perfect finish may be the team\u2019s only path to playoffs. (Paul Vernon \/ The Associated Press files)<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t an exaggeration from the head coach of the Jets, nor is it a scare tactic.<\/p>\n To call it a rallying cry isn\u2019t entirely accurate either, since the players already realize the grave nature of the situation they find themselves in.<\/p>\n Arniel wasn\u2019t trying to provide motivation, just give an honest assessment; he realizes that the four or five teams in this race are facing one another regularly during the final two weeks of games.<\/p>\n By going 3-1 on this recent road trip, the Jets did enough to stay in the conversation.<\/p>\n Finding a way to slip past the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks \u2014 who will be in town on Apr. 16 in the Jets\u2019 final game \u2014 won\u2019t be easy.<\/p>\n Neither has rallying back from 11 points out to get within striking distance, as the Jets have done by putting forth a faster and more structured game coming out of the Olympic break.<\/p>\n While the hiccup against the Dallas Stars<\/a> on Thursday wasn\u2019t something the Jets could really afford, the response against the Blue Jackets told you everything you needed to know about the level of belief.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it was great. We needed it. Obviously, would have been great to be 4-0, but take what we can get,\u201d said Jets left-winger Kyle Connor, who scored both goals on Saturday to hit 35 for the fourth time in his career. \u201cIt just speaks to the maturity of the group. And focusing on us and how we need to play. And not really worrying about too much outside noise.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking at the standings, we\u2019re going to need some help. But that\u2019s something that we can\u2019t be (counting) on. We\u2019ve got to do our job here. So, that\u2019s kind of where we\u2019re at. The next game is the biggest (one) here \u2014 and focusing on being the best players we can and showing up.\u201d<\/p>\n There have certainly been a few missteps for the Jets, but they\u2019ve also put together a lengthy stretch of mostly consistent play.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why the discussion surrounding the team has mostly shifted to the race, though a high draft pick remains a legitimate option, depending on how the regular season ends.<\/p>\n Even with the late push, the Jets go into Monday\u2019s action tied for 25th in the league in points with the Toronto Maple <\/a>Leafs<\/a>.<\/p>\n If they\u2019re able to continue to make up ground this week, the Jets could be trending towards a first round pick that ends up somewhere between 10th and 17th.<\/p>\n If they falter, a top-5 selection \u2013 and even the first overall pick \u2013 remains in play.<\/p>\n Therein lies the rub: in taking an arms-length approach, the appeal of getting a high-end forward or impactful defenceman with one of the top picks that could compete for a roster spot in the fall is undeniable.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Jets forward Alex Iafallo, right, reacts to Kyle Connor\u2019s goal past Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves, center, and defenseman Denton Mateychuk during the third period Saturday. (Paul Vernon \/ The Associated Press files)<\/p>\n Despite the character the Jets have shown in battling hard to the end, it remains apparent that this roster needs a talent infusion to move back to being a bona fide Stanley Cup contender by next season.<\/p>\n That\u2019s of little concern for a group of proud players focused solely on the present and not ready to think about the future.<\/p>\n The flip side of the argument is that all the Jets need to do is get in, ensuring themselves of a different kind of lottery ticket.<\/p>\n Much like members of Team Tankathon are dreaming of a top pick and a chance to bring Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoef or someone along those lines, professional athletes don\u2019t care about unlikely odds and aren\u2019t intimidated by the prospect of another first-round matchup with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.<\/p>\n The Jets don\u2019t have to look far for evidence of what an eighth seed can do against the Presidents\u2019 Trophy winner, as they were pushed to the limit last April and needed a pair of six-on-five goals \u2014 plus a marker from captain Adam Lowry in double overtime \u2014 to survive by the skin of their teeth<\/a> against the St. Louis Blues.<\/p>\n Both of the aforementioned scenarios are currently on the back burner for the individuals that will be responsible for where the Jets ultimately land.<\/p>\n For this edition of the Jets, it\u2019s all about the here and now.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cWe\u2019ve kind of been stressing all along that we can\u2019t dwell on what happened or just happened (in) the last game. Even the last period,\u201d said Arniel. \u201cYou have to move on and focus on what\u2019s coming, and the guys have done a fantastic job of staying focused that way.\u201d<\/p>\n That steely focus \u2013 coupled with the precision of executing at an extremely high level and playing their best hockey of the entire campaign \u2014 is what it will take to keep the Jets slim playoff chances alive.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery game is a big one,\u201d said Jets centre Mark Scheifele, who is up to 94 points. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to get our rest and be ready for another big game.\u201d<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/kenwiebe<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Ken Wiebe Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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