Offense continues to be the name of the game, other things we learned from Jets, Predators Game 2

Facing potentially dire circumstances with the possibility of going down two on home ice, the Nashville Predators were able to grind out a very important win in Game 2. Here are some takeaways from this wild matchup.

The Nashville Predators are not a team that should be considered an underdog in any situation. They are the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners and they were runners-up to the Penguins in last years Stanley Cup Finals.

With all that being said, I wouldn’t fancy their odds of winning four out of five, with three of those needing to be in Winnipeg. Especially since the Jets were the best team at home this season and haven’t lost there since March 1.

The Predators, in a sense, had to win this game or else they could have really been considered done. What occurred in this insane second game of what most people would consider the best matchup we will see all playoffs was just a barrage of non-stop action. Both offenses were flying and both goalies were hoping for better games as the Predators managed to tie the series at one apiece off of a goal from Kevin Fiala in the second overtime.

Here are some takeaways from this game.

3 Takeaways from Game 2

1. Offense is the name game in this series so far.

Two games into the series and already a consistent pattern has been made apparent. Both teams are playing with emphasis on high-octane offense and an overall aggressive style of play. This should be of no surprise to both Jets and Predators fans but what may be more surprising lack of defense, especially from the Predators, who arguably have the best defensive core in the league.

In two games, The Jets have scored eight goals and the Predators have scored six. When you have the likes of Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Ryan Johansen, and Victor Arvidsson all playing in the same game then it makes sense.

Both goalies have been the victim of great shooters in this series and that has led to beauty goals including this filthy play from Ryan Johansen in the third.

And this fantastic one timer from Mark Scheifele to send the game into OT.

2. Pekka Rinne redeems himself.

Pekka Rinne has been outstanding this entire year, and it dates back all the way to last years playoff run as he was stupendous throughout all of that as well. Many people would consider the 35-year-old Finnish native to be the MVP for the Predators this year, and he may edge out Connor Hellebuyck for the Vezina Trophy this season.

With all that being said, Rinne was not great in Game 1 and the Predators can’t afford for Rinne to drop below the level he was playing with in the regular season. He is too valuable to the team and luckily for Predators fans he redeemed himself after his poor form.

Rinne faced an onslaught of shots in this game that almost spanned a complete five periods. He made 46 saves on 50 shots for a SV percentage of .920, a far cry from his .813 in Game 1. He was shaky in the first which was apparent after letting in a weak goal from the short side at the hand of Dustin Byfuglien.

But he settled down after that and really was only beaten by true quality scoring chances or a bad bounce off the end boards.

Overall, he played a much more solid game, but he must continue to play at the level we know he can or else the Jets offense may just be too much for the Predators to handle.

3. The Jets could run away with this series at home.

The Winnipeg Jets have really clicked as a team this year and it has shown in their prowess in big games and their propensity to overrun their opponents with one of the most deadly offense in the game today.

What bodes well for the Jets, even after a bit of a heartbreaker in double overtime is the fact that the Jets have been the better team so far in this series. They looked downright dominant in the first game of the series and in the second they were only stopped by goalie standing on his head.

The high-octane offense containing the likes of Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele has been torrid throughout the series including a 50 shot barrage in this one.

As the series heads back to Winnipeg, the question will be whether or not the Predators will be able to adjust and keep up with the Jets in an arena where the Jets won 32 games, a league high for wins at home.

A lot will come down to the play of Pekka Rinne but the defense must improve or else the Jets may steamroll the Predators at home putting them in great position to move on to the next round of the playoffs.

Next: Each NHL Team's Biggest 'What if" Moment

This game was nothing short of insane and if every game going forward in this series is even half as crazy as this one then we are in for treat as hockey fans.

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