The Jets win game seven over the Nashville Predators 5-1 to win the series 4-2 and move on to the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Pinch us, we’re dreaming!

TALKING POINTS

It was pointed out by CBC’s Cassie Campbell as the series started and it came to fruition tonight… Pekka Rinne has issues with pucks down low behind and around his goal-line and the Jets first two goals of the night proved it. I don’t think Peter Laviolette had a choice in pulling Pekka out early (giggity) because being down two goals is one thing, but three would have been killer.
As it turned out, two goals was killer enough thanks to the work of Connor Hellebuyck and his 36 saves. Hellebuyck was simply phenomenal tonight and he was so in front of a very good Jets defense that didn’t give the Predators much of anything on the inside.
So disappointed that P.K. Subban dove like he did to draw the second Preds power-play and subsequently score on. It’s one thing to do that in a mid-season game in February, but you would hope for not quite as much “gamesmanship” in a game seven situation. The only thing more disappointing was that the refs bit really hard on it.
The Jets at the very least played the Preds pretty even in that first period which was huge. They absolutely couldn’t let them get the first goal and it was even better that they had a lead after 20 minutes.
The Jets best periods in this series have been the second and this one was no different up until the third goal from Mark Scheifele off a beauty pass from Blake Wheeler. (For the record, splitting them up was a horrible idea and I’m sorry I ever suggested it.) After that though in the last five minutes I felt the Jets hung back too much and let the Predators start to attack.
Which carried on into the third period…
On one hand I think everyone understands why the Jets let up a bit in the third, especially with a 3-1 lead that still felt a bit precarious and one mistake – which is something the Preds looked to feed off of all series – could have made things much worse, but still a little more attacking in the final frame would have been nice.
That’s literally the only criticism I got right now.
To think, the Vegas Golden Knights blocked a potential Jets trade for Derick Brassard which if it had happened would have meant Paul Statsny doesn’t likely become a Jet. Crazy how that has turned out. That will be a big story line in the next series I am sure.

SCORING SUMMARY

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

CHARTS N STUFF

Stats & charts courtesy Corsica.Hockey

Matchups are limited to 5-on-5 situations. Tile size is scaled by Time On Ice and colour is scaled by adjusted Expected Goals differential. Blue represents a home team advantage and red represents a road team advantage.

Heat Map Chart courtesy: NaturalStatTrick.com

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

For Winnipeg – Paul Stastny – Two goals and an assist and now far and away one of the all-time best deadline day pickups in NHL history. Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele and Nik Ehlers also deserve kudos, but Stastny had a heck of a game seven to top off a very good series.

For Nashville – P.K. Subban – His diving antics aside (hope that fine he pays for it was worth it) you could tell of all the Predators out there, he wanted it the most. A goal and five shots and the most ice time (28:02) of any player out there.

NEXT FLIGHT

ON TO THE NEXT ROUND!! The Western Conference Final starts Saturday night in Winnipeg against the Vegas Golden Knights with puck drop at 6 PM CST.