Jets-Predators set to clash in 2nd round
WINNIPEG — Tyler Myers knows he’s about to take part in a marquee playoff matchup that will send one very good team home for the summer.
The Winnipeg defenceman just hopes it’s not his Jets.
Winnipeg takes on the Nashville Predators in the NHL’s best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal — a second-round clash that pits the top two regular-season teams against each other.
“I understand it’s going to create more buzz given how well both of us did in the regular season,” said Myers, who was made available to the media on Monday, although the team didn’t skate.
“You’ve got one and two playing each other in the second round. We know a lot of people were wanting this series and were very excited about it. Players are, too. It should be very exciting.”
Nashville finished first overall with 117 points, but the Jets were right behind them with 114. Winnipeg went 2-3-0 against the Predators in their regular-season meetings, with a total of 41 goals scored.
Myers said it’s not disappointing one of the top two teams will get eliminated so early in the playoffs.
“You’re going to run into a good team at one point or another in the playoffs,” he said. “Every team has a chance to win any given series.
“For us, it doesn’t matter who it’s up against. It just so happens the one and two are playing in the second round, and that’s more than fine with us.”
The start of their series hasn’t yet been scheduled, but will begin later this week in Nashville as they hold home-ice advantage.
The Jets bounced the Minnesota Wild out of the playoffs in Game 5 last Friday, while the Predators needed six games to eliminate the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
While hockey fans have lamented the fact the playoff format doesn’t allow for Nashville and Winnipeg to meet in the conference final, Jets coach Paul Maurice said he’s fine with that.
“(The Predators) were the eighth seed last year and got to the (Stanley Cup) final,” said Maurice, whose team won the franchise’s first playoff series. “That happens. So I don’t think it matters.”
The matchup features two physical, fast clubs with four lines that can score. They each, coincidentally, come into the series off 5-0 series-clinching victories.
“They’re high-event games because something is happening all the time, right?” Maurice said. “They’re either very physical, I think really fast, great saves. Neither team is passive in how they play.”