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Jets vs. Predators: Jets will soar in Game 6

By Griffin Youngs

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros (74) makes a save on Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) during Game Five of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators, held on May 5, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros (74) makes a save on Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) during Game Five of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators, held on May 5, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets host the Nashville Predators in Game 6 with a chance to advance to the Conference Finals. Is it time for the Jets to soar, or will Nashville bring them down to earth?

The second round series between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets has delivered and more. The two high powered offenses have lit each other up multiple times, but right now it’s the Jets who find themselves up 3-2 with a chance to advance on home ice to their first Conference Finals.

Winnipeg had a lot of expectations entering this postseason, and it is on pace to surpass even those. The scoring depth of the Jets has torched the Predators multiple times, and Nashville has had problems finding a response. Mark Scheifele has taken over in these playoffs, leading the team with 14 points and is tied with Sidney Crosby for second in the league in goal scoring with nine goals.

Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t always been perfect, but he’s done his job more than admirably to allow that high powered offense to get the job done.

Nashville needs to figure this out to force a Game 7 on home ice. Pekka Rinne has clearly been struggling against the high powered Jets offense, and every time he seems like he’s back to regular season form, he relapses. But Rinne has not been the only problem, players like Kyle Turris and Roman Josi have been invisible on top of others. Josi is supposed to lead this defense but has not recorded a point since Game 3 vs. Colorado, and Turris was supposed to be the piece to bring it all together this season but has fallen off the map with just three points this postseason. They are not the only ones to blame, but they need a big night if Nashville hopes to extend their season.

The Jets have simply been a better team in this series, and they’ve got all their key players showing up when they need them. Now their efforts have earned them a chance to close out this series in front of the loudest fans in the league. Nashville needs to have its most complete game of the season and get what they need from everybody in the lineup on the road, and that’s exactly what they did in Game 4, but the scoring attack of the Jets will make them crack once again.

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Winnipeg jumps out to an early lead, Nashville bounces back to tie, Mark Scheifele continues his torrent pace to give Winnipeg the lead again, and Hellebuyck holds the fort to send the Jets on their way to a Western Conference Finals matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Game 6 prediction: Jets defeat Predators 4-3

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