Predators vs. Jets live stream, Game 1: TV schedule, online and more
By C.L. Kohuss
On Friday night, the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets will lock up for Game 1 of their second-round series. Check below for TV listings, time and online stream information.
It seems like only a day or so ago that the NHL playoffs started, but we’re now a full two weeks gone and already digging in to Round 2. It’s bittersweet to see these matchups pass so quickly, but it’s also given us plenty to talk about and plenty of memorable contests. For the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets, this semifinals battle was fated.
On the Preds side, they come in to this one having scrapped to knock off the Colorado Avalanche in six games. It was a series that ended up a heck of a lot closer than many expected. Nashville likely didn’t foresee needing to use its good hand to swat them away, especially going into the postseason as President’s Trophy winners. Then again, the playoffs are always a different beast. Ask the Boston Bruins who had to survive through a Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
For the Jets, they actually did what we all presumed and laid heavy wood on the injury-laden Minnesota Wild. Winnipeg scored 16 goals in five games to keep its high-powered offense clicking. The Jets were second in regular season goals for. They also finished a mere three points behind Nashville for the Central Division crown.
Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets: Game 1
Date: Friday, April 27
Time: 8 p.m. E.T.
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
TV: NBCSN, CBC, SN360, TVAS
Live stream: fubo.TV. Sign up now for a free trial.
This series, really, should be a Western Conference Finals contest. If there’s one (very) slight silver lining to the NHL’s oft-maligned playoff format, it’s that we get to see a matchup this potent sooner rather than later.
Both teams possess loads of star power. Filip Forsberg dangled for the Predators against Colorado and now we’re wondering if he might be joining the circus. Jets’ phenom Patrik Laine didn’t necessarily light it up against the Wild the way he did in the regular season, but he’ll be out to seek and destroy Nashville in Game 1. Defenseman P.K. Subban is nominated once again as a Norris Trophy candidate, Dustin Byfuglien had a great series for Winnipeg (five points to co-lead the team), and Mark Scheifele popped four goals to prove that it’s not just the Laine/Blake Wheeler show for the Jets.
Yet, there are two other guys who will be major factors in Game 1, and will be huge in determining which club moves beyond Round 2.
Players to watch: Game 1
Connor Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck had a breakout season in goal for the Jets. He put up career highs in wins (44), save percentage (.924), games played (67) and shutouts (6). He also garnered his first Vezina nomination, and at 24, Winnipeg has an absolute monster in goal for years to come.
But Hellebuyck wasn’t a regular season one-off. Aside from a Game 3 to forget against Minnesota, he locked down the net with back-to-back shutouts in Games 4 and 5. The Jets will need similar efforts against a Nashville team that can produce much more offense than the Wild. The Preds put up 22 goals on the Avalanche in six games of work.
Pekka Rinne
Nashville knows what it’ll be getting from its own star netminder, which is a chance to win every single game he starts. For the fourth time in his career, Rinne has been nominated for the Vezina. He’s never won the award, but talk is heavy that it’s all his this season. Wait, two Vezina candidates going head-to-head in the playoffs? If you’ve never watched playoff hockey, now is the time to start.
Rinne put up regular season numbers that are probably ho-hum by his standards: 42 wins, a 2.31 goals against average, .927 save percentage and eight shutouts. At 35, the guy is still one of the best in the NHL.
As with Hellebuyck, Rinne will need to find a way to shut down Winnipeg’s top line. At the start of the Colorado series, he wasn’t great. He surrendered 10 goals in the first three games, but came on strong to finish. He allowed four in the final three.
We’ve been waiting all season to watch this series go full-tilt. It’s on.
Next: 30 best NHL goaltenders of all time
For more from the NHL playoffs, make sure to follow FanSided and stay tuned to our NHL hub for all the latest news and results.