Predators respect Round 2 opponent
Jets formidable foes for last season's Stanley Cup runner-up
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/04/2018 (2718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The time for looking ahead is over. Now it’s what the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators do on the ice over the next couple weeks that will dictate where this compelling story goes from here.
The playoff series that everyone in the hockey world has been talking about finally gets going tonight as the NHL’s two best regular-season teams meet up, with a trip to the Western Conference finals on the line.
While the Jets stayed away from the rink Thursday before the flight to Tennessee, the Predators held a 45-minute practice as they gear up for what could be a real page-turner.

“There’s going to be a lot of different stories. There will be a completely different story after Game 1, a different story after Game 2. It’s just part of the buildup. There’s ratings, they need to get people’s eyes on the game. That helps generate money and all that stuff. That’s important,” Nashville defenceman P.K. Subban said Thursday of all the buzz surrounding this matchup. “For the players, it’s exciting because they’re a good team and we’re a good team. The best thing about winning — and you ask anybody who’s won a Cup — is the steps it takes to get there. You have to go through some thick walls, and this is definitely one of the thickest walls we’re going to have to get through to get there.”
Among the many battles to look forward to is the one in the nets. Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck are both Vezina Trophy candidates this season and have shown the ability to steal victories from the jaws of defeat.
“They have a lot of firepower, a lot of offence. It’s always hard to expect what you’re going to get. Obviously if you want to beat that team you’ve got to be really good defensively, too. That’s something we’re going to focus on,” said Preds netminder Rinne. “Of course you want to match (Hellebuyck) save for save and be there for your teammates. I’m a proud guy. He had an exceptional season and he’s been great for that team. He’s 200 feet down the ice, so I’m not in contact with him. But in a way you have a battle with him as a goalie.”
Preds coach Peter Laviolette was preaching discipline Thursday, saying he’s reminded his team about the importance of not getting caught up in the emotion and ending up in the penalty box. Winnipeg vs. Nashville games during the regular-season were filled with extracurricular activity.
“We’ve got to be aggressive with our mindset. Play the game hard, play it fast,” said Laviolette. “They have speed and skill, they have size. They have big goaltending, they’re well-coached. Those are just stating the obvious. I’m not trying to blow smoke here. They’re a good hockey team. You have to prove that though through the course of a regular season, and they certainly have.’’
Both teams will begin the series relatively healthy. Nashville has all of their regulars primed to play with lots of depth such as veteran Scott Hartnell waiting in the wings as a likely healthy scratch if needed. Winnipeg has some question marks in the form of defenceman Toby Enstrom, who missed round one, plus winger Patrik Laine, who left two practices early this week and didn’t skate Wednesday. Jets forward Joel Armia was banged up in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild and has been in a non-contact jersey all week.
“We just want to tighten it up. Their power play scored a bunch of goals against us during the regular season. Penalties have been our misfortune all year. So staying out of the box is huge. You play these guys five-on-five, they’re a fast team. You go four-on-four, or down five-on-four, it makes it a little dicey for us,” said Hartnell. “I love our competitiveness this week in practice. Guys are battling, guys are going to war, guys look sharp. I think come (Friday) night we’ll be ready to rock.”
Laviolette said the playoffs are a much different animal than the regular season, so don’t expect all the same storylines to continue.
“I know that we tried to press it and score, I know they try to do the same thing. I know that they’ve got a good goaltender, so do we. Both teams play pretty good defence as well. I can’t explain the regular season. I don’t think it necessarily means it’s going to be the same way. But I guess we’re going to find out,” he said.
Preds defenceman Ryan Ellis said risk management will be critical.

“It’s a fine line for sure. We know how dangerous they are in terms of an offensive team. You turn over one puck, make one mistake and they’re going the other way. There’s definitely a fine line between jumping into the rush and being aware defensively,” said Ellis. “They’re deep at every position on their team. Even their injuries and extra players, they can step in. I feel like we’re a very similar team in a sense. It’s going to be a great series.”
How much of a role will experience play? After all, Nashville made it to the Stanley Cup final last year before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Jets are in unchartered waters simply by making it this far.
“This was new to a lot of guys last year for us as well. But we kept our composure. It’s a young league now. A lot of young players, and they’re learning quickly and on the fly,” said Subban. “How much experience do you need to make it to the Stanley Cup final? It’s more just the confidence as a group and in your locker room and how your guys manage things. They have some great veteran players and we have some good veteran players who are able to keep everybody even-keel.”
Winnipeg had the best home record this season and Nashville wasn’t far behind, so they’ll be looking to tap into their rabid fan-bases for that extra boost along the way.
“That’s the reason you go after home ice. The regular season is really just jockeying for position. We did our job in the regular season, now it’s time to follow it up in the playoffs,” said Ellis.
mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
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