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At the start of every season, the goal of NHL teams is to make the playoffs. And as much as the Jets were in that same boat, this season was about more than wins and losses.

It was about identity and culture. Playing the right way, how to handle adversity, play for each other, be ready to play, be vocal, establish routines, and maybe the most important message from Coach Paul Maurice – enjoy what you do and enjoy each other's company. (Coach Maurice has said a number of times that this group likes being around each other.)

On being ready to play, the Jets scored the game's opening goal 49 times and their 74 first period goals was one of the best in the NHL. But this from Coach Maurice perhaps described it best – "not once as I was driving to the rink did I worry about this team being ready to go."

It was all part of the routines that were developed. Game days have a certain look to them, as do practice days, as do travel days. There was a low point early in the season, a home loss to Calgary. "After every goal against, we gave up another scoring chance," stated Coach Maurice. "The bench was quiet, no one was talking, and that had to change as soon as possible." Soon they were not letting negative things that happen in a game take an emotional toll on them.

This group wanted to get better, and the players were willing to help each other by challenging one another and holding each other accountable. Whether its practice, a game day skate or a game, this is a fired up group. A group that wanted structure.  When Coach Maurice came in HAVING to make the playoffs was never discussed. He was here to evaluate, bring structure and to develop an identity that included effort, compete, speed and physicality. And his three captains (Andrew Ladd, Mark Stuart and Blake Wheeler) led the way by "never taking a day off, whether it be a game day or a practice day. They are the tone setters, they run your room."

Creating the physical part of the identity led the Jets to being shorthanded a league high 308 times (3.7 per game average). There was no denial from the coach that this team was going to take penalties. But at the same time their shorthanded numbers were much better in the final 15 games, shorthanded 40 times (2.6 per game average).

 As for systems, without getting into too much detail, Coach says its two parts. "System is what you do without the puck, style is what you do with the puck. System you have to have as a foundation, while you sometimes learn your style. Your style changes with players getting better and new players coming in." And yes, the system was key in the team's success when the lineup was devastated with injuries. "It gives you a foundation." Coaches will tell you it's easy to pre scout teams that have a good foundation because they do the same thing shift in and shift out.

But making playoffs was not going to come ahead of development. Centremen Adam Lowry and Mark Scheifele started the season at 21 years of age. Despite being a rookie, the only way Lowry was coming out of the lineup was because he wasn't ready for the NHL and needed more seasoning. That never happened. After a few games at left wing he was moved back to centre "because going forward that is where the Jets saw him playing." Scheifele and Jacob Trouba (21) were already used to regular shifts and big minutes from their rookie years, and that just continued. Michael Hutchinson (25) won 21 games, and when injuries hit the D core Ben Chairot (23) was recalled from St. John's and played a regular shift until he got hurt. And it appears he will be paired with Dustin Byfuglien for game one of the playoffs. Players that came in were not going to push the youngsters out of the lineup.

So when did Coach Maurice get the feeling this group could make the playoffs? "Through November/December we were good. (Only 5 regulation losses in a 29 game stretch) But we played a lot of non-playoff teams. We beat the teams we should beat. But that's when I felt we had a chance. (Went into the all-star break winning six of seven and points in all seven) But our big test came in the last six weeks, not only playing playoff teams, but the elite ones. (Wins over defending champion Los Angeles, Nashville, Tampa, Washington, Montreal, Minnesota and St. Louis) Coming in that stretch we had not had a lot of success against the elite." Much of that was because the top teams were ready for the battle the Jets brought. Opposition coaches and players were now talking about the challenge of playing the Jets. Words like quick, big, physical, compete level, and ready to play were all being used to describe the Jets. As playoffs got closer, there was talk of not wanting to meet the Jets in round one.
    
But systems and structure in place, and having an identity were still no playoff guarantee. Biggest challenge is playing in the Central Division. For most of the year Nashville, St. Louis and Chicago were considered cup contenders. In the end Dallas and Colorado after making the playoffs last year were out. Every team in the Central expects to be in the playoffs next year. Three will make it, five can. It was five out of the Central last year and again this year.

From day one the talk around this team has been to be better in the goals against category. As they prepare for playoffs they have set a new franchise mark. Ondrej Pavelec set careers numbers for goals against, save percentage, shutouts in a single season and is now the franchise leader career shutouts. Credit to him, but also to the way this team plays. The team's defensive structure has been key to the Jets making the playoffs.

"It was critical that the group got rewarded. They needed a payoff for facing all the adversity, getting off the mat as many times as they did," added Coach Maurice. "And it's all on them. They came to camp in great shape, everyone has bought into the game preparation, and they took care of things that hockey players and a hockey team are supposed to take care of."