Andrew Copp wants to get some sleep tonight.
Seeing as the winner will meet the Winnipeg Jets in the second-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he hopes tonight’s Game 7 between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens doesn’t go past his bed time.
“We’ll be ready to see who wins and either I’m packing a bag to go [to Toronto] tomorrow, or we’re staying here [to play Montreal],… said Copp. “Hopefully it doesn’t go to six overtimes, because that’ll be past my bed time.…
The Jets know whether it’s Montreal or Toronto they’re going to play a hockey game Wednesday night, they’re first of the second-round.
By that point the Bruins and Islanders will be two games into their second-round series, as well as the Lightning and Hurricanes.
The Golden Knights and Avalanche will drop the puck later Wednesday night, their second game of the series.
“It will be a good game for sure, it will be interesting to see how Toronto bounces back and Montreal has a little momentum. Feels like the pressure is on both of them,… said Copp.
“I don’t think I’m going to be dissecting the game totally into the nuances and want not. I think I’m going to be partially watching as a fan. Obviously taking note of whoever wins the game, we’re playing against. I think there’s an opportunity to take it in as a fan.…
When the puck does drop for the Jets on round two Wednesday, it will be their first game in nine days. A long layoff for a team that is carrying a ton of momentum out of a first-round upset and sweep of the Edmonton Oilers.
“I actually didn’t realize it was nine days,… said Connor Hellebuyck. “I had it in my head it was six for some reason.…
After sweeping the St. Louis Blues in their first-round series, the Colorado Avalanche had seven days between games, kicking off their second-round series Sunday night with a 7-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Cleary there was no rust.
The Jets hope to mimic what the Avalanche did in their respective second-round Game 1.
“To replicate what they did, they were impressive. So hopefully we can come out with that same kind of jump,… said Copp. “I don’t know exactly what they did [during their layoff). We’ve had some layoffs this year and been up and down in how we’ve responded to those. Obviously, this one is probably a little bit longer than those. We’ll be ready to go.…
During their time off, the Jets tried to balance rest and preparation as much as they could. Excited to finally find out their opponent will be, the Jets are confident they’ll be ready to go from the start on Wednesday.
“I think there’s confidence that we’ll be able to get to that emotional level. The longer that your break is, the more anticipation. We’re close to needing a game here soon,… said head coach Paul Maurice.
“There’s a timing to that and a peaking to that. So really important that we go about our business and cover our bases. First: you’ve got to probably fill the reserves, get rested, get ready, get right. That anticipation is coming. I think you can already feel it. Right now, it’s all details and tactics and trying to keep the legs right.…
The Jets are a bit familiar with the situation they’re in, being in it before in 2018. The only difference this time is the role has been reversed.
In the third-round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs the Jets were coming off an emotional seven game series with the Nashville Predators. Sitting there waiting for them was the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals.
Copp and the Jets came out and took Game 1, 4-2. Then, they went on to lose four straight, sending the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.
“We came out in Game 1 riding a high from winning that series. We kind of dominated Game 1, and how quickly the series kind of turned in their favor,… said Copp.
“Maybe they were a little rusty in Game 1 and slowly built back up in the series. That experience, whatever happens in Game 1, we can revert to that series in the opposite way.…
The Jets are sick of the questions about rest and how it will affect them come Wednesday. Once the clock hits triple zero in Toronto Monday night, or either team nets the game winner in overtime, the page will turn and the Jets will be ready.
“Drop the puck and everybody will stop talking about it and we’ll assess from there,… said Maurice.
Toronto or Montreal?
We’ll soon find out.