The Winnipeg Jets host the Vegas Golden Knights tonight in a Western Conference final rematch that you won’t want to miss.
2018 Western Conference finals rematch or 2019 Western Conference finals preview. Take your pick. The Winnipeg Jets will play host to the red-hot Vegas Golden Knights tonight in a preview of what could very well end up being a playoff series we would enjoy seeing a second straight time.
The Jets are a powerhouse team, currently leading the stacked central division. Their 17 home wins is second to only the Tampa Bay Lightning and the depth, talent and experience on the team have them among the betting favorites to make it to the Stanley Cup final at +400. (Odds via Oddsshark).
Winnipeg has won four straight at home and own the best home power play in the NHL (37%). Patrik Laine was relatively shut down by the Knights in the playoffs last year and is looking for a game in which to get back to his goal-scoring self. He’ll be motivated to get some revenge tonight, as it’s the first game since the Knights absolute beat-down of the Jets last May.
The Knights have accomplished the one thing the Jets have yet to do. They’ve played for the Stanley Cup. Last season, a gassed Winnipeg team coming off of an incredible seven-game series with the Nashville Predators could not get it done in the Conference finals. The Knight’s made relatively quick work of Winnipeg, taking the series 4-1. After a slow start to this season, the Knights are right back in mix of potential Cup contenders.
Vegas has won eight of their last ten games. In fact, since defenseman Nate Schmidt returned in mid-November, they’ve only lost seven of 28 games. The top end of the Pacific division is a nightmare right now, with all of Vegas, San Jose and Calgary within four points of each other and winners of eight of their last ten games respectively.
Knights forward Paul Stasny also makes his return to Winnipeg tonight. While he only spent the end of last season with the Jets, it took him no time to become a fan-favorite in the hard-working city. Stasny is having another solid season, with 13 points in 18 games. Unfortunately for the Jets, he didn’t fit into their cap situation and had to be let go in the offseason. He’s sure to get a warm welcome from the Winnipeg fans when he takes the ice tonight.
*starts a gofundme page to keep Paul Stasny in Winnipeg forever
— The Hoov™ (@tim_co_op) May 11, 2018
Any one of the current playoff teams in the Western Conference could make a Cup run this season. The Pacific hosts the three hottest teams, but the Central Division’s top two are by far the most experienced in the months of April, May and June. With Nashville seemingly just beyond their peak, Calgary still being young and San Jose being San Jose, the Jets and Knights should be betting favorites for a WCF rematch.
Players to watch
- Blake Wheeler – The Jets captain currently has 49 assists and will be going for number 50 tonight.
- Patrik Laine – As stated above, Laine will be playing with some extra motivation tonight. If he torches the team that shut him down last year, it could wake him from his currently dry spell and launch him into another long point streak (Only two goals and two assists in his last 13 games).
- Paul Stasny – Returning to a place where he had 13 points in 19 regular season games then went on to collect another 15 points in 17 playoff games (eight of which came at home). It’s safe to say Stasny likes the barn in Winnipeg.
- Marc Andre Fleury – Winnipeg is going to be bringing everything tonight. For Vegas to win, they’ll need a strong performance from Flower, who seems to play best under any kind of pressure. Expect a solid game from the Knights ‘tender.
Tonight’s game will be a preview of what could become an all-time series in the 2019 Western Conference finals. The puck drops at 8:00 p.m. ET. Check your local listings for channels and game info.