‘I take full responsibility’: Winnipeg Jets’ Bowness takes blame for playoff failure

 

The Winnipeg Jets players and staff attended the witness stand to answer questions on the disappearance of the regular season Jets, who vanished after joining the playoffs as the league's hottest team, rather than getting ready for what would have been an extremely critical Game 6.

“Listen, I take full responsibility for that playoff performance,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. “I do. Our team did not play well.”

For the second year in a row, Bowness has taken the brunt of the blame for their playoff exit in just five games. And the pain in their voices made it obvious that this one hurts a little bit more.

“As weird as it sounds there was so many guys that were unprepared to talk today,” said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “Because they’re like, we’re not supposed to be talking today, we’re supposed to be practicing today.”

 

It's simple to argue that the Jets aren't prepared for the postseason after six straight losses in playoff elimination games dating back to 2018, but Bowness insisted that this season is different from the previous one.

The Jets allowed at least five goals in every game, but it’s awfully difficult to pin their elimination all on the goalie.