NO LETTING UP
Jets on top, but expect Wild to be much different at home
History suggests the Winnipeg Jets have put themselves in great position to win their first-round NHL playoff series with the Minnesota Wild.
Through all the best-of-sevens played since 1939 in the NHL, teams that go ahead 2-0 win the series 88% of the time.
The Jets took a 2-0 lead with 3-2 and 4-1 wins on home ice and dominated the Wild in terms of possession, shots on goal and physicality.
Still, with the series now shifting to St. Paul for Games 3 and 4 Sunday and Tuesday, the Jets expect a big pushback from the Wild, a team that only lost six games in regulation on home ice during the regular season. Only the Jets, with a 32-7-2 record at home, had a better mark than the Wild.
“They’re the next best home team in the NHL so they’re going to get into their comfort zone real good,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said Saturday before the team departed for the snowy, stormy Twin Cities. “It’s a loud building. We’re just really good at home. So are they. What we need to do is handle it. Our game won’t change.”
The Wild will need to pick things up considerably in order to start matching the Jets. Minnesota created very little offence in Games 1 and 2, managing a total of just 37 shots and, despite playing a middle-clogging defensive style, were unable to prevent the Jets from firing 84 shots on goal and putting the puck in the net seven times.
“I think they’re going to come out with a real strong push,” Jets centre Adam Lowry said. “We’re happy with the way we played. Now going back to Minnesota we expect them to come out and be skating. They always seem to be on the puck and create a lot of chances there.”
The Jets continue to explore uncharted territory.
Until Wednesday, the franchise had never won so much as a playoff game. Now they’ve got two playoff wins and will look for their firstever road victory on the way to their inaugural series win.
Nobody is sitting back and enjoying the 2-0 lead, despite what the historical trends indicate.
“I think you’re a little bit more comfortable than being down 2-0,” Lowry said.
“It was nice to get that first win out of the way. I think, just mentally, to know that now the organization has accomplished that, we’re moving forward here and looking forward to the next challenge.”
Through the first two games, the Wild had very little offensive zone time, with goals and quality scoring chances coming mostly off the rush. The Jets tightened up in that area in Game 2 and though it was only 1-0 into the third period, it was never really that close of a contest.
It sounds like for the Wild to get back in this series, they’ll have to play a lot more like, well, the Jets.
“They’re just going to try and get back to their speed game,” Lowry said. “Usually when we have trouble with Minnesota in their rink they’re moving the puck through the neutral zone, they’re skating, they’re activating their D, they seem to come at you in waves. So we’re going to have to be aware of that.”
The Jets have activated their defence regularly in the series. Joe Morrow scored the winning goal in Game 1 and Tyler Myers opened the scoring in Game 2 on a great individual effort.
Dustin Byfuglien has been a monster physically and has two assists.
While Matt Dumba has been strong for the Wild, playing 57 minutes in the first two games, Minnesota has not been able to match that offence from the defence so far.
“For us, we’ve played a very fast game,” Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said. “Our forwards have been extremely hard in not giving them any clean ice to make passes on breakouts and when they’re skating and really in the right position and all over the puck, it makes it easier for our D to stay up and have a good gap as well. They do have some guys there that have a lot of skill and can be dangerous but if you limit their time and space it allows our D to be all over them. That’s the style we want to play.”