When Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness chastised some players this week for a lack of effort, veteran forward Nino Niederreiter admitted there were “passengers” on the struggling team’s playoff journey.
Bowness’ frustration was evident in his post-game comments after the Jets were shut out 3-0 by the league-worst San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, the third time in seven games”The inconsistency of some of our players are hurting us,” Bowness stated following the road loss. “If some of these men think they’re giving us everything in their tank, they’re mistaken.”
Niederreiter, who has played 15 games for Winnipeg since being acquired from Nashville last month, cited Bowness’s decades of NHL experience.
“The inconsistency of some of our players are hurting us,” Bowness stated following the road loss. “If some of these men think they’re giving us everything in their tank, they’re mistaken.”
Niederreiter, who has played 15 games for Winnipeg since being acquired from Nashville last month, cited Bowness’s decades of NHL experience.
The Jets last had a three-game winning run just after the all-star break. In the 21 games following that modest run, they have only won seven (7-12-2).
Their fast slide has left them hanging to the Western Conference’s second wild-card berth with a 41-31-3 record, two points ahead of Calgary and three in front of Nashville. The Predators play in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, and they have a two-game lead over the idle Jets and Flames.
Winnipeg opens a critical five-game homestand Friday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Niederreiter, who is playing for the fifth club in his 12-year career, believes that one game may change everything, and he hopes it is coming soon.
“We have excellent players and the league is a terrific league, so you’ve got to play with an exceptional mindset,” he said.
“You have to play with a competitive mindset every night and never take anything for granted, and I believe that’s what’s been happening lately. “We take too much for granted.”
Bowness told reporters after practice that he spoke with players who he thought might not be emptying their tanks every game. He recognizes that they won’t be at their best every night, and he’s moving on after addressing it.
