Winnipeg Jets NHL Playoffs: Only Game Seven Remains

The Winnipeg Jets were at home, at the cozy confines of Bell MTS Place, with one win to go the finish off the Nashville Predators. The literal back-and-forth of this series continued, as Winnipeg couldn’t close it out.

The Winnipeg Jets had a beautiful shot at heading to a Western Conference Finals matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights. They blew it. Well, it’s hard to put much blame on them with how Nashville played, but they did lose.

The series is now even and 3-3, just as we knew it would be. There is but one game remaining, and the Winnipeg Jets will have to win it in Nashville if they’re going to win it. The good news, if there is any, is that no team has won two games in a row in this series.

If that trend continues, we’ll have to thank the Jets for taking game one in unspectacular fashion. If you want to be optimistic, look at that. Each coach has had to adjust and form a game plan that would counter the other team, and the chess match ends on Thursday night.

It’s Paul Maurice’s time to take it from check to checkmate. You knew the Predators would play tight defense. You knew the Jets would have to be perfect to win. Pekka Rinne wasn’t going to get pulled two games in a row.

But every tough game, the Jets have bounced back. This is their first time being shutout, but no matter. Have no fear that Winnipeg will be firing on all cylinders for Game 7. Only, Nashville will too. It won’t be easy. It will be disappointing if Winnipeg goes home, sure, but not a letdown.

This team gave us so much more than we could’ve hoped for this season. And hey, it’s still going. Maybe they kick it into high gear and see what Vegas can do. One thing that still kinda surprised me: Winnipeg is outscoring Nashville 22-18 this series. That may not seem like much, but a goal differential of four in a tied series is notable.

They were even shutout last night! They’ve shown the ability to really rack up the goals this series (games of six and seven tallies), and I wouldn’t expect another shutout. Each team is 2-1 on the road, so I wouldn’t expect a win just because they’re in Nashville. And yes, I know I said that I would in the preview.

The Western Conference Semifinals unfurled a bit differently than I anticipated. Almost four goals a game for Winnipeg? Surprising! Patrik Laine not lighting the lamp, even knowing that? Also a surprise. If he can come through and be the hero, I think we could all feel a lot better about everything.

Laine hasn’t been a disappointment, sure (1G, 4A), but I think we’d all like to see more scoring out of the Finnish wing. Maybe a game 7 goal or two wouldn’t hurt, Patrik. Thanks in advance.

Next: Don't Look Back In Anger

But I digress. This has been the series we all hoped for, it really has. Game Seven is a fitting way to do this, and it’s only a shame Manitoba cannot play the host. Although, nobody’s complaining if the Winnipeg Jets win Game Seven.

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The Winnipeg Jets were at home, at the cozy confines of Bell MTS Place, with one win to go the finish off the Nashville Predators. The literal back-and-forth of this series continued, as Winnipeg couldn’t close it out.

But every tough game, the Jets have bounced back. This is their first time being shutout, but no matter. Have no fear that Winnipeg will be firing on all cylinders for Game 7. Only, Nashville will too. It won’t be easy. It will be disappointing if Winnipeg goes home, sure, but not a letdown.

Schedule