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NHL playoffs 2018: Updated bracket after Jets beat Predators

By Michelle Bruton

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 10: Paul Stastny #25, Nikolaj Ehlers #27, Tyler Myers #57, and Patrik Laine #29 celebrate a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 10: Paul Stastny #25, Nikolaj Ehlers #27, Tyler Myers #57, and Patrik Laine #29 celebrate a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Nashville Predators 5-1 on Thursday to advance to their first-ever Western Conference Final, where they will face the Vegas Golden Knights.

It hasn’t been a bad postseason at all for the Winnipeg Jets.

After winning their very first playoff game in the seven years since they relocated to Winnipeg, the Jets have kept up their winning ways, dispensing with the Minnesota Wild in five games and following that up with their Game 7 win over the Nashville Predators Thursday night.

Winnipeg dismantled the Predators, scoring two so rapidly in the first 10 minutes of the game that Nashville was forced to pull goaltender Pekka Rinne and insert Juuse Saros.

Center Mark Scheifele had two goals on the night, including the empty-netter to seal the deal. According to Sportsnet, he now holds the record for most road goals scored in a playoff series, with seven.

The Jets see if they can keep up their momentum as they move on to the Western Conference Final to face the Vegas Golden Knights, who won their series against the San Jose Sharks 4-2.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning square off against the Washington Capitals.

Here’s what the Stanley Cup bracket looks like with all four Conference Final opponents finally decided:

Every team advancing to the penultimate round of the playoffs is a No. 1 seed, except for the Jets, which finished second in the NHL’s Central Division.

Here’s the full TV schedule and livestream guide for the Conference Final. The action kicks off on Friday, with Game 1 between the Capitals and Lightning in Tampa Bay starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Next: Every current NHL franchise’s most beloved head coach

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