Fansided

Ranking the Stanley Cup playoff Round 2 matchups by watchability

By David Rouben

WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 25: Ben Chiarot #7 of the Winnipeg Jets and Miikka Salomaki #20 of the Nashville Predators battle in front of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 during third period action at the Bell MTS Place on March 25, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Preds 5-4 in the shootout. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 25: Ben Chiarot #7 of the Winnipeg Jets and Miikka Salomaki #20 of the Nashville Predators battle in front of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 during third period action at the Bell MTS Place on March 25, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Preds 5-4 in the shootout. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – APRIL 20: Mark Scheifele #55, Andrew Copp #9, Dustin Byfuglien #33 and Joel Armia #40 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate a first period goal against the Minnesota Wild in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Wild 5-0 and won the series 4-1. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – APRIL 20: Mark Scheifele #55, Andrew Copp #9, Dustin Byfuglien #33 and Joel Armia #40 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate a first period goal against the Minnesota Wild in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Wild 5-0 and won the series 4-1. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators

Ordinarily, the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators would be the definitive matchup for hockey hipsters. They’re both from small markets, rely on depth as opposed to star players and love to fly under the radar. It worked for the Predators last year, as they went from last team in, to two games away from winning the Cup. It won’t work this year, as this matchup between the two best teams in the league will draw the attention of everyone. Hopefully, you were a fan of the Predators and Jets before they were cool.

The Predators are poised to get back to the Cup Final and finish the job this year. Even though the Colorado Avalanche put up a great fight, they still took care of business, most notably in Game 6 when they won 5-0 on the road. Along the way, Filip Forsberg made it onto the highlight reel seemingly every time he scored and Pekka Rinne proved why he should be considered the Vezina frontrunner.

While the Jets came into this year’s playoffs looking for their first series win, they didn’t give the Minnesota Wild any benefit of the doubt. Aside from Game 3, they steamrolled the Wild and come into the second-round riding two consecutive shutouts from Connor Hellebuyck.

There are so many intriguing storylines packed into this series, but the goaltending battle between Hellebuyck and Rinne might be tops. Few teams have contained the Jets’ forward depth, but the Predators – who have two bonafide top defensive pairings — might be able to. And after Patrik Laine put up four points in his playoff debut, what will he have in store as an encore?

Next: Predicting every matchup in the Stanley Cup semifinals

It’s a shame that one of these teams has to lose at this stage, but it’s a safe bet that the winner of this series will make the Cup Final. While every matchup in this second round is great, Predators vs. Jets will make for must-see TV. Hopefully, we’ll be treated to at least two Game 7s in this round.

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