“We’re both trying to get ready for the playoffs”: Gameday 78 Winnipeg Jets vs Nashville Predators

Be sure to check Betway to check out the latest Jets game day odds and bet on the NHL!  I’ve had this week circled on my calendar since the start of the season. It’s the second-to-last week of the regular season hockey, and the Jets are facing off against three Central Division rivals, who all happen to be teams the Jets could face off against in the first two rounds of the playoffs. This week will either give Jets fans hope going into the first round or will be a sign of things to come in the first couple of rounds.

The Jets will take on the Nashville Predators tonight, the Dallas Stars on Thursday, and the Colorado Avalanche Saturday afternoon. The Jets will need to win two of these three games, and they really need a win over Dallas so I can feel good about them in the postseason.

Nashville has been good in 2024, going 25-13-3 and should be going to the postseason as one of the wildcard teams. A win tonight and St. Louis losing their next game should punch Nashville’s ticket to playing in the postseason. They are currently seven points up on St. Louis and have a game in hand. But expect a hard-fought game by the Predators tonight.

The Jets in 2024 are 25-15-2. In their last 10 games, they are 4-5-1 and will need to win at least two of the next three games and three of their last five. The Jets have lost their last two games against Nashville.

Connor Hellebuyck gets the start for Winnipeg tonight. He is 24-19-4 with a 2.41 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Against the Predators, Hellebuyck is 14-9-2 with a 2.51 GAA and a .925 SV%.

Juuse Saros starts tonight for Nashville. He is 24-19-4 this season with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. The Predators’ starter is 6-6-3 with a GAA of 2.47 and a .927 SV% against the Jets.

Kyle Connor has three goals against the Predators this season and is tied with Mark Scheifele in points with five. Scheifele has five assists against the Preds. Filip Forsberg leads his team in goals against the Jets with three. Roman Josi leads the team in points with five.

The Jets should be running back the same forward lines they used against the Minnesota Wild as Nino Niederreiter is still out with the leg laceration. He could be back as soon as Saturday, but there is no timeline for his return as per Rick Bowness. Dylan DeMelo is back with Josh Morrissey on the top pair, and Neal Pionk is back with Brenden Dillon.