Kane carrying Jets into NHL playoffs?
Possibly one of the biggest surprises coming out of the Eastern Conference post All-Star break is the exceptional play of the Central Division’s Winnipeg Jets, who are knocking on the door of the postseason and aren’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon.
After completing a successful home stand recently that has them seeded 10th in the conference with a 32-29-8 record (six points behind the suddenly-surging Washington Capitals), the Jets seem to have hit their greatest potential at the right time of year.
With goaltender Ondrej Pavelec playing well between the pipes, Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom leading the two-way surge from the blue line, and the first line of Blake Wheeler (who leads the team in scoring) Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little clicking like never before, the Jets seem to have all the right tools – despite being rather young – to make a legitimate playoff push.
While goaltending and consistent production from your first line is indeed crucial, it’s not the only reason Winnipeg is playing above and beyond expectations.
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Third-year forward Evander Kane is having a career season playing on the squad’s second line, currently boasting a team-leading 27 goals (six on the power play), which has him on pace to record his first 30-plus-goal season. He is projected to finish with 57 points in just 72 games played.
While Kane has become a rather common name among Jets fans as well as in the Winnipeg media, his stellar and consistent performance has been rather quiet compared to some of the other young guns turning heads throughout the NHL.
Comparing him to fellow youngsters Jamie Benn, 22, Jordan Eberle, 21, and Logan Couture, 21, who all received invites to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, Kane has been somewhat underappreciated, despite the fact his stats are comparable and his well-rounded game has him pegged to emerge as one of the league’s toughest and most effective young power forwards. It’s the classic example of having not enough time to showcase everybody, so the little guy – in this case representative from the small-market Jets – gets left out.
At just 20 years old, Kane is undoubtedly playing beyond his years. With an illustrious career ahead of him, it’s scary to think where he might be a few season down the road when he reaches his physical and mentally mature peak.
With fellow youngster and linemate Alexander Burmistrov also coming into his own this season under the guidance of veteran center Kyle Wellwood, the future looks promising for Manitoba’s newly-adopted pride and joy.
What was originally pegged as universal bliss over the return of the Jets has suddenly turned to excitement about the possibility of more than 82 games this season. There’s still an outside chance that the laughably-named Southeast Division may see only one representative in the playoffs, and that may be one of the league’s most northwesterly-located teams in the Jets. With a division title, they’ll be guaranteed home ice advantage for at least the first two rounds – should they play so well. But they still have some work to do to catch up to the Panthers and Capitals.
Kane did not get a chance to play in the playoffs in his two seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, but if this breakout season is any indication, he’ll do just fine anchoring the second line for the Jets, thank you very much.
Whether or not the Jets continue on with their winning ways and clinch a playoff birth, you can bet that Kane and Co. will play instrumental roles for the team down the stretch and will certainly be counted upon to fill important roles in years to come.
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