Altitude Check: Thursday February 9, 2012 Winnipeg Jets News Headlines

Hey all! Here is our feature running Monday through Friday that will bring you up to date on what's going on in the media pertaining to the Winnipeg Jets.

Here is what's in the news for Thursday, February 9, 2012:

Previewing tonight's game vs. the Washington Capitals. [NHL.com]

Our SB Nation pals at Japers' Rink provide more from a Capitals perspective. [Japers' Rink]

Fancy Stats guru Neil Greenberg notes that "bubble teams" rarely go far in the playoffs - something which does not bode well for either the Caps or the Jets: "If we look at post-lockout teams that were on the bubble for a playoff spot, defined here as within five points of the eight seed (both ahead and behind) as of March 1st, 34 of the 77 (44 percent) did not qualify for the post-season. Of the 43 teams that did qualify, 24 failed to make it out of round one and another 12 didn't make it past round two. That means almost 84 percent of those teams have not made it past the Conference semifinals. Hardly the (familiar) result Washington is looking for." [Washington Post]

The Jets will have their hands full with Dmitri Orlov tonight. Orlov is quickly becoming one of Washington's more reliable defensemen this season. [Washington Times]

Evander Kane off-ice story lines are getting beaten to death. Gary brings the conjecture, you draw the conclusions! [WFP]

Could Winnipeg be the host site of a 2014 Heritage Classic? The Free Press seems to think so: "A source has told the Free Press the league has taken the next step in their study by contacting Environment Canada seeking data on weather patterns in Winnipeg for January and February. Now, while that may seem like a given -- most Winnipeggers would offer up their own forecast as cold with the chance of more cold -- it does indicate how seriously the NHL is considering the Manitoba capital as a future site for a Heritage Classic outdoor game, perhaps in 2014."[WFP]

Cam Charron - who has become one of my favorite bloggers - offers a great stats driven article on what it will take to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The Jets will have their hands full. [Jets Nation]

How do the Jets feel about the fast approaching Trade Deadline? "You never want to see a guy leave the dressing room," Thorburn said. "We’ve created some great bonds in here." [Toronto Sun]

Kyle Wellwood is still suffering from a bout with the flue and did not travel with the team on their trip to Washington and Pittsburgh. [Twitter, via Winnipeg Jets]

Even though he has been reduced to back-up duties for the Capitals, I feel it's important that Jets fans learn the proper pronunciation of Michal Neuvirth's name. It's NOYV--IRRT. Not NEW-VIRTH. Not NY-VEERT. Not NOY-VEERT. NOYV-IRRT. [Wikipedia]

Finally, that rumbling you feel beneath your feet - yeah, that's The Rapture coming. Olli Jokinen capped of Calgary Flames 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks by scoring a hat-trick. We're as good as doomed. [NHL.com]