The Winnipeg Jets conquered the Minnesota Wild in round one, in just five games. Now they head to Nashville to take on a Predators powerhouse.
The Winnipeg Jets are in the Western Conference Semifinals. One would think, at 114 points and second overall in the NHL, they would capture home ice. Unfortunately, Nashville was the only team ahead of them in the standings.
This is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for, as fans. For Winnipeg, this might be the ultimate test. This is their version of the Penguins taking on Columbus and Washington before facing… Ottawa in the Conference Final.
Or the year before when they faced Washington and Tampa in the Semis and Conference Final before making the Sharks look like an OHL team. A Nashville Predators / Winnipeg Jets series might not be the NHL’s idea of a moneymaker, but true fans will love this series.
The Predators somehow lost two games to the Colorado Avalanche, and gave up some late goals and saw their defense underperform. It might be prudent to chalk that up to playing down to their opponent, which is never smart. Don’t count on them continuing to play that way.
Nashville went 3-1-1 against the Winnipeg Jets this season, but that doesn’t matter much now. The goal differential was just +2 for the Predators.
Let’s break this thing down.