This is it! 82 regular season games later and the best record in Winnipeg Jets history be it franchise or local city with 52 wins, 114 points and second place overall in the entire league has led us to a first round date with the Minnesota Wild.

The Jets finished the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the league, going 11-1-0 and ending things on a five game win streak. As good as that was though, it wasn’t without a few eyebrow raising worthy blips as the Jets were involved in a couple of high scoring shootouts that ultimately needed shootouts to decide things. Winnipeg’s last regular season game against Chicago was a little more “Jets-like” in terms of seeing the quick strike offence with strong defense up the middle like we’ve been used to seeing all season.

The Wild come beaten up already on the blue line and having lost three of their last five games – and to be honest, one of the two wins was against Edmonton, so does it even count? The Wild did look a little bit better in their last game against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in a 6-3 win on the road. Their last 10 games where they’ve gone 4-2-4 may be something Jets fans want to keep in mind tonight. The Wild have been playing decent hockey – even in the face of having lost Ryan Suter – and out of their four overtime losses, three were in the 3 on 3 overtime session while one was in a shootout loss. The Wild have struggled in the 3 on 3 overtime setting this season because they aren’t a particularly fast team that can keep up with all kinds of extra ice available to faster clubs (like the Jets) .. No such 3 on 3 worries here in the playoffs and the Wild will be able to play “their game” in the ‘next goal wins’ overtime.

As you know doubt know by now, the Jets owned the regular season series with the Wild going 4-1-0 against Minnesota. Two of the Jets wins came in October and were closely battled one goal games. A 7-2 route of the Wild took place in late November in the friendly confines of Bell MTS Place, but the Wild did get a measure of revenge in mid January with a 4-1 win at home. Connor Hellebuyck was the goalie for all four games against the Wild and he posted a .914 save percentage.

I’ll hate to see what Jets fans will be like if this game ends up being a loss and suddenly the “they haven’t won a playoff game ever” whispers turn into shouts. That said, I don’t think we have anything to worry about tonight. Jets win 4-2 and seize early momentum in the series.