Jets Fly To Conference Finals

The Winnipeg Jets didn’t even make the playoffs in 2016 or 2017 and coming into this season, the franchise had never advanced beyond the first round since its beginning as the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999. Now the Jets are moving on the Western Conference Final to face the expansion Vegas Golden Knights – what a playoffs these have been.

After we had to endure a couple days without hockey before Thursday’s actions, we’re going to jump right into the Conference Finals tonight with the Washington Capitals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. I’ll have Rotoworld’s Conference Finals preview article coming up in the early afternoon so please keep an eye out for that. In the meantime though, let’s dive into the final game of the second round.

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WINNIPEG 5 NASHVILLE 1 (Jets win series 4-3)

What a rough series this was for Pekka Rinne. He surrendered two goals on seven shots last night before being yanked just 10:31 minutes into the game. He was also chased out of Game 1 and Game 5 as the Jets just seemed to have him figured out for a good chunk of this series. That said it’s not as if Juuse Saros was able to contend with the Jets on Thursday. After Saros took over for Rinne, he allowed two goals on 16 shots.

At the other end of the ice, Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 36 of 37 Predators shots. This is the first playoffs of the 24-year-old’s career and it’s been a superb run for him. The Jets likely wouldn’t have made the playoffs without his strong play in the regular season and they wouldn’t have gotten past Nashville without his continued contributions.

P.K. Subban scored the Predators’ only goal. At the time it made the game 2-1 in favor of Winnipeg late in the first period, so there was some hope that the marker might turn the tide, but of course that didn’t happen.

Paul Stastny scored two goals, including the game-winner and registered an assist. He’s up to six goals and 14 points in 12 playoff contests. The Jets gave up, among other things, a first round pick to get Stastny from St. Louis, but they have to be happy with the results.

Mark Scheifele also found the back of the net twice for the Jets. That brings him up to 11 goals and 16 points in 12 postseason games.

Blake Wheeler assisted on two of Winnipeg’s five goals. That gives him three goals and 15 points in 12 playoff contests.

Kyle Connor registered two assists last night. He has two goals and eight points in 12 games with five of those points coming in his last three contests.

The Jets won’t get much of a break as their series against Vegas will begin on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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