Their brief road momentum hobbled, the Winnipeg Jets limped home in the wee hours of Sunday morning facing an ever-clearer reality.
With only three points gained from a possible eight on a route through Edmonton, Carolina, Tampa and south Florida, they are running out of games and headed in the wrong direction.
The trip began with the Jets eight points off the playoff line in the NHL's Western Conference. This morning's mountain is even taller and steeper -- Winnipeg is now 11 points away with just 24 games to go.
Not to mention five teams to pass.