clarinews@clarinet.com (01/13/90)
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (UPI) -- Before the start of the NHL season the number of people picking the Winnipeg Jets for a playoff spot could be put in a telephone booth, sitting down. But instead of living in the low rent district, the Jets are in the middle-income bracket and heading up after a 7-5 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings boosted their home-ice, unbeaten streak to seven (5-0-2). ``We're kind of surprising people, aren't we?'' asked center Laurie Boschman, whose first-period goal was his 500th-career point. ``Bob (Jets coach Murdoch) has us believing in ourselves. He doesn't ask us to play outside our abilities. He wants us to take things game by game and not think too far ahead.'' Two additions to the line-up have given the Jets a different dimension from other editions of the Jets. Paul McDermid, acquired from Hartford for Randy Cunneyworth in December, led the Jets with a goal and two assists, while Dave McLlwain, acquired in the off-season from Pittsburgh, had three assists. ``There's a guy (McDermid) who goes out there and takes the body, and he's a good forechecker,'' said Winnipeg captain Hawerchuk. ``He's really got the opposition's defense looking over their shoulders. It makes it easier for the other forwards to get the passes.'' Neither team played well in its own zone but Winnipeg capitalized on more of its chances. ``We played poorly in our own zone,'' said Red Wings Coach Jacques Demers. ``You can't open up like that and play that kind of defense in anybody's building especially the way the Jets have been playing. It's our own fault. We made bad mistakes in our own zone and it cost us.''