Phil Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Winnipeg Jets Tue., April 18: Jets at Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2 Thu., April 20 Jets at Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS Sat., April 22: Golden Knights at Jets, 4 p.m. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS Mon., April 24: Golden Knights at Jets, 9:30 p.m. ET, SNW, TVAS, ESPN Thu., April 27: Jets at Golden Knights, TBA Sat., April 29: Golden Knights at Jets, TBA Mon., May 1: Jets at Golden Knights, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points Jets: 46-33-3, 95 points SEASON SERIES: VGK 3-0-0; WPG 0-2-1 GAME BREAKERS: Golden Knights: Jack Eichel led them with 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 67 games as the No. 1 center. He has been battling injuries lately, missing two games because of an upper-body injury before returning for the season finale Thursday. He had one assist and played 17:58 in the victory against Seattle and declared himself ready for his first postseason appearance in his eight NHL seasons. Eichel at his best is a game-changing forward who makes the Golden Knights a deeper and more dangerous team. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Eichel also will present a unique matchup problem for the Jets. Jets: Winnipeg rests its hat on being a defensively sound team, so it's no surprise that a defenseman is a game-breaker in their system. Josh Morrissey does it all for the Jets. He was second for Winnipeg with 76 points (16 goals, 60 assists) in 78 games, behind Kyle Connor (80 points), and tied with Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks for second among NHL defensemen, behind Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks (101 points). Morrissey averaged 24:14 of ice time which led the Jets and was 14th in the NHL. He also was second among Winnipeg defensemen in blocked shots (119) and first in takeaways (36). Put simply, he is a force of nature that impacts the game in all three zones. GOALTENDING: Golden Knights: The biggest question mark for Vegas is who will man the crease. They had five players start at least one game during the season. Rookie Logan Thompson was brilliant until injuries sidelined him in the second half of the season, limiting him to 37 games. He's made 10 starts since Jan. 1 and none since March 23. Jonathan Quick, who won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings, was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2, but has been middling (5-2-2, .901 save percentage, 3.13 goals-against average) in 10 games (nine starts). Laurent Brossoit, who battled injuries in the first half of the season, made his NHL season debut Feb. 21 and was 7-0-3 with a 2.17 GAA and .927 save percentage in 11 games (10 starts) to perhaps emerge as the Game 1 starter. Jets: Winnipeg will go as far as Hellebuyck takes them. Hellebuyck, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2020 as the best goalie in the NHL, is one of the biggest reasons the Jets are in the playoffs. He is a confident goalie who can go on long stretches of sustained excellence. He was 37-25-2 with a 2.49 GAA and .920 save percentage in 64 games (all starts). His 37 wins were tied for third in the NHL and his save percentage was tied for fourth (minimum 20 games). In the 2018 playoffs, Hellebuyck was 9-8 with a 2.36 GAA, .922 save percentage and two shutouts in 17 games. However, he struggled against the Golden Knights this season, allowing seven goals in two losses (0-1-1). X FACTORS: Golden Knights: Mark Stone is Vegas' biggest question mark. The forward has been out since Jan. 12 after undergoing back surgery but is expected back for Game 1 and is a game-changer in every area. He is among the best shut-down forwards in the League and an offensive threat simultaneously with 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in 43 games this season. He generally has been a solid playoff performer, scoring at least five goals in each of the past four postseason appearances. Stone's presence in the lineup would be a boon for the Golden Knights. Jets: Nikolaj Ehlers was injured in the penultimate regular-season game after being hit by Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild. He missed the season finale because of an upper-body injury, but the forward has cleared concussion protocol according to coach Rick Bowness. Ehlers, who has battled injuries all season, had 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 45 games. He had scored 20 or more goals in each of the previous six seasons, and when he is at his best his speed is difficult for even the best defensive teams to handle. WILL WIN IF: Golden Knights: Vegas has to play the defensively responsible, opportunistic game it played all season. It was good enough to beat Winnipeg three times in the regular season and it is good enough to beat the Jets in a seven-game series. They need to suppress shots, slow the transition game when Winnipeg has the puck and stay disciplined to avoid games and a series dominated by special teams. Jets: Hellebuyck has to be the best player in the series. He is more than capable of doing it, and if he does, he can frustrate a Golden Knights team that has trouble scoring, even on the power play. While both teams want to play a low-scoring, limited-chance series, the Jets know their biggest advantage rests with the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner. For them to succeed against the top seed he will have to be at his best. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-stanley-cup-playoffs-vegas-golden-knights-vs-winnipeg-jets-1st-round-preview/c-343572264?tid=343453254 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Heaven Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Mark Stone miraculously recovered from his injury in time for Game 1. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Johnathan Quick revenge tour? Imagine if Vegas plays LA at some point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 Terrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 NHL reported to the ESPN broadcast team he got between 75-100 stitches and he returned the next period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 Holy shit. Glad he seems okay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 3 hours ago, Cash or Czech said: Holy shit. Glad he seems okay Jets' Barron returns with reported 75 stitches after taking skate to face https://www.thescore.com/s/24942081 AND HE FREAKIN RETURNED!!! Hockey players are monsters!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 That's insane wow. I'm cant understand how that didn't end up worse than it did. That looked ugly af. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 3 hours ago, Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc said: That's insane wow. I'm cant understand how that didn't end up worse than it did. That looked ugly af. That's like centimeters from being life changing, losing an eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted April 20, 2023 Author Share Posted April 20, 2023 What a badass scar that's gonna be! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 (edited) Remember when everyone was crucifying Ron Francis? That was cool. And dumb. Edited April 21, 2023 by Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 Jets ties it 4-4 with under 30 seconds left after being down 4-1 to start the 3rd. A crazy game heading to OT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 Wow Stone always wins it with 1 second left but is tripped. Vegas will start the OT on the PP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siddious Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 What a game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 Howden with two goals puts the Jets on the brink elimination. He has more goals than Panarin. We are in the worst time-line comfirmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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