Jets vs. Predators: Game 3 prediction
By C.L. Kohuss
The Winnipeg Jets continue their second round series with the Nashville Predators in Game 3 on Tuesday night. With the matchup tied 1-1, which team has the best chance at taking control? Check below for our always accurate predictions.
This series. There might not be many words to describe it, and we’re only two games in. The Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators came into Round 2 as the best clubs the Western Conference had to give from the regular season, and they have not disappointed. If you happened to miss Game 1, we’re offering small loans of forgiveness.
Maybe you were still caught in the whirlwind of NFL Draft coverage. That’s
not really
fine. If you missed Game 2, though, we need to chat.
In what turned out to be the best contest so far in these playoffs, the Predators found a way to get it done 5-4 in double overtime. That saved them from an 0-2 hole, which would have been made all the worse by the fact that the series now moves to Winnipeg. It also further shows how the NHL playoff format is broken. Fans had a good idea that these two would not only face one another, but that it would be a gladiatorial fight to the death in what’s amounting to must-see television. The drama could have been mind-numbingly intoxicating had this matchup waited one more round.
That said, it’s time to go full Dead Zone. Let’s dig in on some predictions.
Game 3 Predictions
1: Mark Scheifele will score Nos. 5 and 6 on Tuesday night.
Scheifele has been a monster so far for the Jets with four goals and five points in the first two games. He has eight goals overall and we don’t see him slowing down. Really, we don’t want him to. His performance against Nashville has been nothing short of brilliant. Keep it up and Conn Smythe conversations will begin in short order.
2: Austin Watson is going to have a really nice game for Nashville.
Through the first two, he’s been a ghost. He has zero points and is a minus-1. In the Predators’ first round matchup with the Colorado Avalanche, Watson was wonderful. He put up four goals and seven points to help eliminate the Avs in six games. It was a breakout series for the young forward and his being scoreless won’t last much longer. Give him a goal and an assist to kickstart a hot streak.
3: One of the two starting goaltenders is going to be not so awesome.
In terms of how I’ve done individually with predictions, that should be a good sign for both clubs and we posit that they won’t allow a thing through at least four overtime periods after this.
Initially, this seemed to be a marvelous duel between Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck, both Vezina candidates, but so far, it hasn’t come to fruition. Hellebuyck was a warlock for the Jets in Game 1. Rinne not so much, allowing three goals on 16 shots. Game 2 was better considering there were almost 100 shots combined, but they still allowed nine goals. Hellebuyck is home this time around so we’re giving him the “he’ll commit sorcery” nod. That probably means Rinne gets the shutout, though.
Score: Winnipeg 4, Predators 2
Next: 10 reasons Stanley Cup Playoffs are better than NBA Playoffs
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