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Slumping Jets trying not to panic

Josh Jooris, Mark Scheifele

Josh Jooris, Mark Scheifele

AP

The Winnipeg Jets lost again last night, falling 5-2 to the Flames in Calgary.

It was the Jets’ fourth straight loss in regulation, and also the fourth straight time they’ve surrendered exactly five goals. According to Sports Club Stats, Winnipeg’s chances of making the postseason have fallen from 92.4% on Jan. 21 all the way down to 59.1% today.

The challenge now is to avoid panicking.

“There’s lots of hockey left in the season. So we’ve got to keep our heads a bit,” said Jets center Bryan Little, per the Winnipeg Sun. “You can’t hit the panic button right now. Because if you do, things get way worse. And guys’ attitudes get way worse. So we’ve got to stick with it and get our heads into it and come out hard [Tuesday].”

Not surprisingly, there have been calls for Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to bolster his lineup prior to the March 2 deadline.

“This team needs a move from the general manager,” writes Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun. “A trade to let the players know he’s serious about icing the best lineup every night — a move to equalize the depth on the team, subtracting a defenseman and adding a forward who can chip in with a few goals.”

Cheveldayoff, not the most active trader during his tenure with the organization, may or may not agree with that notion.

The Jets are in Vancouver tonight to play a Canucks side that, like Winnipeg, is trying to keep its collective head as worries of a second-half collapse grow among the fan base.