Fansided

Winnipeg Jets 2018 NHL Playoffs: Game Three Thoughts

By Kyle McCarthy |
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 1: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Winnipeg Jets checks Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators into the net as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 makes a save during second period action in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 1, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 1: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Winnipeg Jets checks Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators into the net as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 makes a save during second period action in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 1, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Winnipeg Jets were fortunate to split the two games in Nashville, no doubt. But in all honesty, after stealing Game One and pushing the next to a second overtime, it felt like a letdown. Thankfully Game Three was anything but.

The Winnipeg Jets are in it now. That was a heck of a game. Three goals in the first for Nashville, none for Winnipeg. It looked like the Predators were about to level the field steal a win in the White Out.

Then the Jets tied it up in the second, and overtook the Preds. Filip Forsberg scored on the powerplay about halfway through the third, the Winnipeg Jets went off from there. Good stuff.

The Winnipeg Jets are mad about our articles. As you well know, they read each and every one before their games. Mark Scheifele showed us up before, and now the rest of the team responded.

They clearly were not pleased about Scheifele having all the fun. Entering Game Three, he was the team’s leading scorer with eight goals, and he still is now. But he went from scoring 33% (8 of 24) of Winnipeg’s goals to just 26% (8 of 31).

Scheifele made certain he wasn’t left out of the party altogether, however, as he added two assists of his own. Twelve points in eight games, what a guy. Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler both notched two goals and a helper, good stuff.

Brandon Tanev, Paul Statsny and Jacob Trouba added the others. Seven goals is good! Even if two of them are empty-netters. Glad to see everyone else getting in on the action.

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The Winnipeg Jets are winning the series, 2-1, but they need to improve their special teams play. Nashville, Vegas, San Jose, it doesn’t matter. It’s doubtful they’ll sustain success without it.

In Game one, Winnipeg held Nashville without a powerplay goal. Since, they’ve allowed three in two games. Not terrible, but they must improve. Their 75% penalty killing number is second worst among Conference Semifinal participants. Only Boston is lower.

Boston, however, has the best powerplay percentage and most goals in the playoffs. But I digress. The Jets have just a 22% percentage against the Predators. Patrik Laine is a big part of that! He lead the league with 20 PPG this past season. That should help if he starts getting on the board.

The youngster scored in his first two playoff games, and has been held scoreless the past six. Assists in all three contests against Nashville is nice, and Laine is getting pucks to the net (fifteen SOG last two games). But it would be nice if the team’s best shooter could hit the back of the net with a few.

On the plus side, but also not specifically the special teams category, Winnipeg finally won the faceoff battle against the Predators in Game Three. I’m not sure that it’s sustainable, but it would be nice if they turned a corner.

Fighting Spirit!

Seeing the Winnipeg Jets get manhandled in Game One, despite winning, was foreboding. But this team has fighting spirit. Going down three goals after the first period to the defending Clarence S. Campbell Bowl winners is rough. But they fought back and went 7-1 in scoring after the first.

Credit has to go to Paul Maurice here for making adjustments. Not just in between periods, but after Game One. Your boys get smacked around, go out there and adjust. That’s what pro sports are all about.

The Winnipeg Jets were outshot 48-19 in the first game, and since have outshot Nashville 95-71. For now, they look like the better team. Taking home ice over is a huge turnaround. Remember, taking it from Nashville means the Jets have it the rest of the playoffs.

Next: The Mark Scheifele Show

They had the second highest point total in the regular season, and that keeps home ice in their pocket. Playing in Winnipeg might be the roughest away game in the NHL, as well. 15,000 fans taking part in the White Out is a beautiful thing. Get used to it.

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