Predicting every matchup in the Stanley Cup semifinals

Central Division – Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets

Offense – This series is going to be quite the dogfight. Nashville likely has a little more depth through their four lines of forwards. The Press can roll out almost any line and have the expectation that they could score a goal on that given shift. Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson lead the way for the Predators as far as points go. As good as Nashville is, they don’t posses one style of player that the Jets do — young goal scorer Patrik Laine. He’s only a few days away from still being a teenager but he can find the back of the net like few others in the NHL. The Jets are going to need Laine and Blake Wheeler to keep up their regular season pace if they want to topple the President’s trophy winner. Winnipeg actually scored more goals than the Predators during the regular season.

Edge – Winnipeg has a very slight edge because of Laine. Watching he and Forsberg in this series is really going to be a blast.

Defense – At least on paper, the Predators have the better defense by a significant margin. The argument could be made that the top three defensemen in Nashville would be the number one defenseman in Winnipeg. That’s really not a sign of disrespect to Dustin Byfuglien or Jacob Trouba. That’s just how good P.K. Subban, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis are in Nashville. The Predators also have the more diverse defense corps, as the Winnipeg group does carry a little more downside. Even with that said, the Jets allowed fewer goals than the Predators. Winnipeg is good at what they do, even if they do look a little un-traditional just from a roster standpoint.

Edge – The Jets might be better than people realize, but the Predators corps is still more talented and could shape the way this series goes.

Goaltending – Two of the three Vezina Trophy candidates for the best goalie in the NHL can be found right in this series. Nashville net-minder Pekka Rinne carries the name brand recognition. He went to the Stanley Cup Finals just last year and has been playing at Vezina-levels for years now. A deep playoff run is old hat to Rinne at this point.

On the other end of the ice, Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck is a relative newcomer at just 24 years old. This season was the first he’s shown that he can be a number one goalie in the NHL and the only playoff experience he has is the five games from the first round. He’s a deserving Vezina candidate.

Edge – This matchup my very well honestly be a push. The regular season stats are basically identical, down to the hundredth of a point in save percentage and goals against. Rinne has whatever edge there is to have sole based on playoff experience.

Series Prediction – My goodness is this series hard to call. The public is likely sleeping on just how good the Jets are. They had a better goal differential in the regular season and only finished a scant three points behind the Predators for the best record in the NHL. It would be surprising if this wasn’t a long and hard fought series. Nashville is going to get taken to the limit, but the Predators move on in a seven-game classic.