There ain't no rest for the wicked, nor is there for NHL teams in the Lockout-shortened season.
The Jets will play their third game in just four days on Tuesday, squaring off against the Washington Capitals in the U.S. capital just over 24 hours removed from an afternoon tilt in Boston where they fell to the Bruins 2-1 in a shootout loss.
The Monday afternoon affair featured Chris Thorburn's first goal of the season, just the second for Winnipeg who are still waiting for their big guns to get going. Dustin Byfuglien has the club's loan other tally from the opening game this past Saturday. Major summer acquisition Olli Jokinen and top scorers from last season like Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler have yet to get on the board.
The Winnipeg Jets go into the Caps' den as ready as they possibly could be though. Mid-season form is going to be a must, against a Washington squad hell bent on making an impact this post-season, something they have not been able to do since the days of Peter Bondra and Olaf Kolzig. Now, it's up to Alexander Ovechkin and Michael Neuvrith to guide the Capitals to the promised land.
If there is any consolation to the Jets loss to the Bruins on Monday, however, it is the improved play of Ondrej Pavelec. The beleaguered netminder who suffered from poor play in Europe during the lockout looked a lot better on Monday in surrendering only one goal from 27 shots he faced, momentum needed when you look across the rink at Ovechkin, Alex Semin and other Capitals snipers.
The Winnipeg Jets are now 0-1-1 on the season and sit 10th in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals, meanwhile, have only played once this season so far, and sit with an 0-1-0 record. With their win, the still undefeated Bruins are 2-0-0 and again look poised for the NHL playoffs.
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