 Winnipeg Jets' Nik Antropov (L) deflects the puck in front of Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg February 12, 2013. REUTERS/Fred Greenslade (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) |
It’s the quarter-pole of the season, an even dozen games in — time enough to draw a few conclusions about the Winnipeg Jets.
One critical, maybe even crippling, conclusion, anyway.
Weren’t the Jets supposed to have improved their forwards this season?
It hasn’t happened, Tuesday night’s 3-2 home loss to Philadelphia the latest example.
Up front the Jets are as anemic as they were a year ago. If it wasn’t for all the offence coming from the blue line, this team would be near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Leading the lack-of-production parade, in no particular order: Kyle Wellwood, Alexander Burmistrov, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Nik Antropov and Olli Jokinen.
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Combined, that group of five has 13 points.
Wellwood, with two assists, has yet to score.
Burmistrov, as feisty as he was against the Flyers again, has a goal and an assist.
Ponikarovsky’s was a free-agent signing that has done little — two goals, no assists.
