Don't read too much into Jets' Game 1 loss, sports psychologists caution anxious fans

Two Manitoba sports psychologists think the Winnipeg Jets still have a shot at being successful in their quest to take home the Stanley Cup despite a 2-1 loss Wednesday to the St. Louis Blues and a habitof failing to hold on to a lead after two periods.

"It's hard to know whether there's any particular factors contributing to it," said Cal Botterill, a retired sports psychologist who still does work with athletes.

Botterill said it's possible the Jets'trouble is from their own great success last year when the team made history getting to the Western Conference Final.

The team'sloss Wednesday was the 10thtime this season they have been defeated after entering the third period with a lead.Only one other team in the NHL has blown more leads in the final 20 minutes.

"I think that the team had a real successful run last year and when you do whether you know it or not you're a little protective," he said.

"You know you want to make sure you don't lose, you don't play poorly. And so that has the opposite effect usually on your play. You know you're not quite as assertive, you're not quite as confident or whatever."

Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, director of sport psychology at the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba, said only Jetsinsiders know what's really going on.

She agreed it's too hard to pinpoint what could be causing the team to struggleduring thethird period.

"There's lots you can control there's lots you can't control," she said.

"I know that they're doing a lot of work probably behind the scenes and they're doing whatever they can to ensure thatthey are going to be successful moving forward."

Leslie-Toogood said fans shouldn't be discouraged. She pointed to the Washington Capitals, which won the Stanley Cuplast year, despite many challenges during their playoff run.

"The adversity that [the Jets] had is not necessarily a bad thing. It actually can be something that's really positive and might end up at the end of the day being something that really helps them be successful in the end."

Botterill added that pressure players put on themselves can sometimes make things worse,although he and Leslie-Toogood agree the players are used to it.

"My advice to most clients these days is there's two things to deal with today's world. One is what's the world doing to you and then what are you doing to yourself," he said.

"As soon as you say 'I have to do something,' two things happen to you. Number one you're thinking some negative thoughts, you're worried about what might happen. And secondly, you end up with some tension."

'It's a chess match': Morrissey

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey told reporters Thursday the Jets won't lose their confidence despite the habit of failing to hold on to a lead after two periods.

"Both teams had posts and great saves," he said. "I think that's going to be the way this series looks. It's gonna be a grinding series and both teams are really tight and [it]could come down to the wire like that in games. So you know we don't lose our confidence at all from that. Obviously we try to learn some things from that game and some things we could do better just as they're doing today as well.

"It's a chess match. We think this is gonna be a long series hopefully and that's what we have to do."

Botterill said it'll be important for Jetsfans to stay with the team just like they did last year.

"They really were a big factor in last year's run and the players really appreciate their enthusiasm and their passion and their support. And so it'll hurt us if that starts to fade."

The Jets play the St. Louis Blues in Game 2 on Friday night in Winnipeg.

• More on the WinnipegJetsplayoffrun