The Winnipeg Jets Actually Drew a Solid Playoff Matchup
The Winnipeg Jets are the very definition of limping into the playoffs, but here we are. They’re in it. And they drew the best matchup the West had to offer. Unless they could somehow be matched against themselves.
The Winnipeg Jets blew the division in impressive fashion, but here we are. Ready to begin the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Camping World.
Wait, sorry, wrong sport. Either way, the Jets will open their playoff slate against the St. Louis Blues. The way things have been trending, it looks like they may close it against the Blues as well.
But I’m actually…kind of optimistic? The Jets have had some of their best games of the season against the Blues. There’s an 8 goal game in there and two five goal games, and then a loss. Which was a shutout. Which isn’t great. But they only allowed one goal there.
And yes, that was all the way back in 2018. You remember the year. The air was fresh and crisp. The white outs were….out? The fans were full of hope and excitement coming off of a season where the team brought everyone to the cusp of the Stanley Cup Final.
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But then 2019 happened, and it, well, isn’t going well for the Winnipeg Jets. I won’t bore you with the details, but they’re 4-5-1 in their last ten games, while St. Louis will enter the tournament on an 8-1-1 run. Not great, Bob.
The Blues even beat the Tampa Bay Lightning. In regulation. But the biggest reason for my slight confidence is the fact that Josh Morrissey should be available in the series. He was skating in a regular jersey but sat out the season finale.
I don’t know why I expect Morrissey to come back and just turn the team around, but they sure played like hot trash without him and were perfectly good with him. Dustin Byfuglien is back, too, and Connor Hellebuyck has looked much better.
That’s reason for optimism, no? I mean, you’re facing a hot Blues team, but I haven’t seen anything that suggests the Jets could best the Stars, and facing Nashville is never an easy task, especially after gifting them home ice.
Next. The Jets Are Better Off Losing The Central. dark
We get a few days to reflect, as this series will begin Wednesday in Winnipeg. And to quote all my Jets fans from social media, I’m just happy we have a team.