The Winnipeg Jets Need to Take Off Right out of the Gate

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JULY 29: Tucker Poolman #3 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks in an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on July 29, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JULY 29: Tucker Poolman #3 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks in an exhibition game prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on July 29, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

The Winnipeg Jets will start their 2021 season this week. The Jets need a great start in the first month of the season to ignite them to a successful 2021.

Winnipeg Jets hockey is finally back this week! On Thursday night at 7 p.m., CST, Winnipeg Fans can turn on their televisions or dial-up their radios and tune in to see the Jets take on the Calgary Flames at Bell MTS Place.

The Calgary game will be the start of the first of eight games for the Jets in the month of January. After opening night the Jets will head to Ontario for a three-game road trip, where they will play Toronto Maple Leafs once and the Ottawa Senators twice.

Then the Jets will finish out the month with a four-game homestand when they take on the Senators, the Edmonton Oilers for two-games, and then they will finish with a matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on January 30.

In total that is a lot of contests in a seventeen-day period and these games could make a world of difference in the standings when the season concludes on May 8.

There is absolutely no time for the Jets to settle in and get the rust off in their early season encounters. They must start the season with their foot on the gas pedal and pick up as many points as possible.

Look at a team like the New York Islanders last year. They got off to a magnificent start to their 2019-2020 campaign and were considered one of the best teams in the NHL. Unfortunately for them the injury bug hit and they struggled towards the middle of the season, but their great start kept them in playoff position. Ultimately the Islanders made the playoffs and had a magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

It is extremely tough for a team to make up ground at the end of the season when each team is making their playoff push. A great January start for Winnipeg may separate them from the rest of the teams in the north and can ultimately be the difference in making the postseason or missing out on it.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: What do you predict the Jets record will be when their eight-game stretch in January concludes? Leave your comments below!

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