This is the series that everyone wants to see when the playoffs happen and for the Jets they clinched a berth in the playoffs last night with the shoot out win over the Predators at Bell MTS Centre. For the lineage of this franchise that dates back to the expansion in 1998 it is only the third time that the team has made a post season visit.
The game last night was one of playoff intensity as the two team met for the final time. It did not start well for the Jets who left the second period down 2 goals to none as the visitors scored on a late goal with just .3 seconds left. To compound the problem the Jets were taking many undisciplined penalties and it appeared the mental side of the game was tilted in in the Preds favour. Then the second period happened.
The Jets came roaring back to tie the game 3-3 only to surrender another goal and leave down by one at the second intermission. Fine, that's progress but again the feeling was that the Jets were being beaten by the more seasoned team, the one with experience and something to prove.
That being said it was the Predators who were proving something to the Jets, they were making them make mistakes. That being said the Jets took penalties but also did not let the penalties kill them and when they had the man advantage they made the Preds pay with two power play goals in the game.
These team don't like each other though, that is clear. PK Subban was fine to get under the skin on Mark Scheifele and anyone else who cared to take his bait, Tyler Myers being one. It was the Preds who seems to draw the Jets into the scrums though and the trolling by Subban was masterful as he seemed to slide away more often than stay involved.
The missing element
In a group discussion long after the game I presented the idea that the Jets do not have enough truculence or said in a less than polite way a$$hole-ness. Simply put they are too nice and not willing to be pricks. The discussion came down to is that a role of a pest or something different. I would suggest it's something different. Players like Kadri, Kesler, Gallagher, Marchand, etc. The ones with the league known reputations that drive other bonkers and make sure you are thinking about them and less the game you have to play.
The position I take is the one of that's an attitude and a skill that can be developed not a player you specifically seek out. Even if it was a player to seek out the Jets can't anymore., but what can be done is bring that element into their collective persona.
With Blake Wheeler scoring a goal early in the third period the rodeo to the finish was on and the Jets did everything they could to make a win in regulation happen. At even strength the Jets completely controlled the game and won the Corsi battle.
CF%
Jets 63% Preds 39%
Scoring Chances Jets 70% Preds 30%
After the Jets got on the scoreboard they never looked back and controlled the game in almost all aspects. While they did give up four goals they also controlled the shot locations well. Simply put this was not an easy game for Nashville and while they had lead this was not going to be like the last meeting in Nashville. In fact if you look back to that game, after the collapse of the first period the Preds had to rely in Rinne to keep them in it. That was the case last night as the Jets could have easily blown this open and won 6-3 or 6-4.
That possibility is the intriguing thing about these teams, they seem to bring out the best and worst of hockey in them. Lots of goals and for the worst side, lots of goals. That's what had Twitter buzzing last night as many who rarely watch either of these teams were commenting on the ferocity of the game. For those who want a playoff match up the second round can't come soon enough.
OT
That was an entertaining OT and it was also one of the most organized the Jets had played in some time. They were not prone to rushes and shots that left them open to odd man rushes and when the inevitable break away happened Hellebuyck was standing tall. The team won;t have to worry about that anymore soon but it was nice to see they have learned a bit from some past futile efforts and mistakes.
If you were not aware the Jets have made the decision to keep Toby Enstrom off the ice for the remaining games of the season so he can get healthy and be ready for the playoffs where he will be needed more.
The Jets are now 9 points up on the Wild and it's unlikely that they can be caught, the only thing they have to play for is home ice. Even with the win last night they still Nashville by 5 with 7 games remaining so they need help from the Predators to close the gap.
The bigger watch now if you are a Jets fan is for the wild card spots, currently held by Colorado and St Louis. If the Predators are going to be the top seed who do Jets fans want them to play? A big physical battle with Anaheim or LA seems preferable but are either they likely to win that series? Perhaps a team like Colorado has a better chance?
Playoff matchup are a funny thing, you want to watch the best series but do you want to play them early on? For Winnipeg I doubt it matters but I'm sure they wouldn't mind seeing the Predators have to fight for their lives in round one.