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The struggle continues: Jets hold players meeting after loss to Coyotes

Winnipeg Jets v Anaheim Ducks

ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 03: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Winnipeg Jets talks with Blake Wheeler #26 before a faceoff against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on January 3, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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A disastrous 10-minute span in the first period was enough to cost the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.

Against the rebuilding Arizona Coyotes, a team with only 12 wins so far this season entering this weekend, the Jets suddenly found themselves chasing the game and they were never able to get it back.

On Friday, goalie Connor Hellebuyck was pulled after three goals on six shots. A decent start for Winnipeg suddenly evaporated and despite their efforts in the third period, the Jets couldn’t complete the comeback in a 4-3 loss.

Two days ago, coach Paul Maurice used some colorful language to describe his team’s performance against Montreal.

There was a players-only meeting following Friday’s loss, per multiple reports.

From the Winnipeg Sun:

The Jets dressing room remained closed for 16 minutes after the game, even though it is supposed to be opened to the media after five minutes by league rule.

Captain Blake Wheeler said it was a players meeting.

“What do you think … you think we were just silent in here with the door shut?” Wheeler tersely responded to a reporter’s question. “Obviously there’s a conversation had between us obviously I’m not going to give you anything that was said in this room.”

Three points out of a playoff spot, the Jets have a huge game Saturday against the L.A. Kings.

The Kings hold the final Wild Card spot in the West. The Jets are three points back. But this wasn’t exactly a great response following Maurice’s tirade. What, exactly, will a players meeting solve?

“We can be better,” Maurice told reporters. “But they never quit. Can we do better things? Sure. Can we get better performances, individually, out of people? Yeah. But they didn’t quit. They kept competing, kept fighting right to the very end and that means a lot right now.”