The expression “on paper” can be deceiving.

On paper, the Winnipeg Jets had been written off as bottom feeders in the NHL.

On paper, their forwards lack talent, the defence isn’t strong enough and the goaltending too mediocre to be considered a threat by opposing teams.

In both years since the team arrived in Winnipeg, respected league analysts have ranked the Jets a long shot to reach the postseason.

It would be an easy out for the Jets to fall victim to these low expectations.

But for this year’s team -- who currently sit tied for the final playoff spot in the east with the Rangers -- these excuses are as thin as the paper the roster is printed on.

And the Jets know it’s going to take an effort from every guy in the locker room to silence the critics and give Winnipeg fans their first playoff birth in 17 years.

“When you’re buying in, wanting to put it on the line for each other and doing those little things that don’t show up on the score sheet, that’s how you get over the hump and become a winning team,” said Jets forward Blake Wheeler following a convincing 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs Tuesday night.

“That’s where we’re trying to go, and I think we’re starting to realize that we have it in this room if we do things the right way.”

Tuesday’s contest was the Jets first full, 60-minute effort this season. Head coach Claude Noel labeled it his team’s best home game this year.

“When you play physical its raises the emotional level of your team, and I think it raises the intensity,” opined Noel on his team’s effort.

First period fights from Chris Thorburn and captain Andrew Ladd were a quick reminder to the Jets’ bench they were in a battle.

And killing off a second period Leafs 5-on-3 power-play lasting close to two minutes inspired a team enough to put the icing on the cake against a team higher in the standings.

“It was a big point in the game when we had a big penalty kill,” said Noel. “I thought we played a pretty solid sixty minutes all the way through.”

Tuesday showcased a team Jets fans aren’t used to seeing. The Jets looked like a playoff team. They looked motivated.

But as much as the increased level of intensity was a step forward for the Jets, it was also predictable.

On paper, the Leafs are the second most penalized team in the league. They lead the NHL in fighting majors with 27 in as many games.

Bottom line: It’s easy to hate a team like the Leafs. It’s easy to get motivated.

The real test for the Jets will be Thursday night when they welcome the New York Rangers to the MTS Centre.

The Rangers style of play is a stark contrast to that of the Leafs.

They’re the second least penalized team in the league, with only five players having more than 10 penalty minutes.

Once seen as a gritty, hard-working club, star-caliber players like Rick Nash, Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik are what define that team now.

Thursday’s game offers the Jets a chance to define the kind of team they want to be in the final stretch.

It will give them the opportunity to climb another game above .500 and get closer to getting over that bump.

The playoffs are a real possibility for this club, but they need to find reasons to be motivated every night if they hope to be playing come spring.

The good news is the Jets are coming off their highest offensive output of the season against the Leafs.

They’re 1-0 against the Rangers this year, and Nik Antropov appears to be out of his slump, scoring five points in the past three games.

On paper, things appear to be lining up nicely.

But as we know, on paper can be deceiving.