Jets' playoff hopes hang in the wind after loss to Rangers

When it rains, it pours for the Winnipeg Jets.

After losing in the final moments in a game against Chicago on Sunday, the Jets were dealt a similar blow Tuesday night, this time to the New York Rangers.

With the game deep in to the third period, and the scored tied at 2-2, Rangers forward Chris Kreider generated speed from his own end, took a pass in stride before brushing off Dustin Byfuglien, and tucked the puck past a sprawling Ondrej Pavelec to seal a 3-2 win.

What was a vibrant MTS Centre crowd all night suddenly turned in to 15,000-strong, all in pure disbelief.

Another one of those games

Not that you could blame them. After all, they were reliving the nightmare they had just three nights before. The mood was also familiar. Some fans booed, most just made a quick and disappointing exit.

"It was another one of those games where we were right on the edge all game," said Bryan Little, who returned to the Jets' lineup after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. "You can't say we didn't have chances where it might have been a different game. They did control the play sometimes and I thought we did a good job kind of riding the storm out."

It's the aftermath the Jets have to deal with now.

Winnipeg has lost three of their last four games and their chances of making the postseason now hang in the wind.

With Los Angeles just two points back and with a game in hand, Winnipeg is no longer in control of their own destiny.

And with just five games left on the schedule, the nerves have started to kick in.

"We realize the games are bigger right now," said Little, adding, "There's some tension out there. There's some nerves out there before the game, guys can feel it, how big these points are."

The question now will be whether or not the Jets can channel those feelings, and focus on the next game - a tilt with the Vancouver Canucks, another team in the thick the Western Conference playoff race.

"It's tough," added Perreault. "We'll think about it a little bit tonight and then move on and get ready for the next one."

Byfuglien faces possible suspension

The Jets may have to do that without defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, who is expected to be under the microscope from the league's player safety department after issuing a cross-check to the back of the neck of Rangers' forward TJ Miller during a second-period scrum in front of the net.

Neither ref called a penalty on the play, but upon replay it's clear Byfuglien drove his stick down on Miller, who came out of the play unscathed, most likely because his glove prevented his head from driving in to the ice.

It's hard to tell what kind of suspension Byfuglien will get but even one game could have a drastic effect.

Then again, perhaps this is exactly what the Jets need in order to right the ship.

There's no doubt the Jets are a better team with Byfuglien in the lineup, but the adversity of having him out may be the necessary wakeup call the team needs right now. The Jets have battled, and most importantly thrived this season when their backs are up against the wall.

At this point, anything that to offer a bit of sunshine should at least be considered.