Note: The Jets went into Nashville to play the biggest NHL game (being sensitive to the WHA history of Winnipeg) to date in the history of our fair city and passed the test with flying colours as they smashed Smashville courtesy of a 6-2 win in game 5. They will now have a chance to close things out when they play game 6 here in Winnipeg on Monday night as they try to get to the Western Conference Finals (something no NHL team in Winnipeg has ever accomplished). The Jets remained in Nashville overnight and a few players and coach Maurice will speak this morning at 11 am before returning to Winnipeg.
Note II: The Moose have dug themselves a huge hole as they fell to the IceHogs in a Saturday afternoon contest at Bell MTS Place by a 4-1 final to go down 0-2 in the series. The Moose will not hold an on-ice practice today although I suspect they will be watching video. The team needs to clean up two areas in order to have any chance in this series as it moves to Rockford for games 3, 4 and 5 being their discipline and their passing. The biggest concern right now is the status of Sami Niku who was in considerable pain and left the game in the 2nd period after a hard hit by Lance Bouma.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Jets clobber Predators, have chance to clinch at home. Can only imagine what the environment is going to be like in the city on Monday. Ken provides his insight into the game.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence
Winnipeg Sun: Jets have Preds on the ropes. Despite the guarantee by PK Subban the Jets will be looking to put these Predators down for the count on Monday.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets wallop Preds 6-2, one win away from Western Conference final. (Paywall). It was quite a night in Music City and Jason recaps the evening.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets centre Lowry says Marchand’s licking ‘extremely disrespectful. (Paywall). We spoke about it on yesterday’s show and it seemed unreal that the topic had even come up.
The Tennessean: Predators buried on Broadway by the Jets. Joe gives you his view of last night’s contest.
The Tennessean: Preds teetering on edge of elimination after blowout Game 5 loss to Jets. Beat writer Adam covers the Preds and provides his thoughts on last night’s game.
ESPN: Subban makes promise that Predators will beat Jets in Game 6. Not sure what else you would expect him to say. Having said that with the way this series has gone and with the way each team has bounced back following a loss you can expect an improved Nashville team on Monday I suspect.
TSN: Connor puts Jets on brink of Conference Final. Quite the title that I’m not sure many expected to see at the beginning of the season.
Sportsnet: Predators down to Plan C trying to figure out Jets. Nice conclusion. Jets fans will be hoping it sings true.
The Athletic: Jets prove they have come of age with authoritative Game 5 win over Nashville. (Paywall). Perhaps the talk of experience will fall by the wayside with the way these guys are playing.
The Athletic: Man, oh, Manitoba will the Presidents’ Trophy Predators face a huge challenge following clunker at home. (Paywall). If we’ve learned anything this series is that not to allow one win or one loss to define the entire series.
Jets video:
TSN: The Jets are not getting ahead of themselves. The Predators’ defence has been touted as the best in the NHL but the Jets seem to have the edge on them in this series. Dave Poulin compares the two defensive corps and discusses how impressed he is at seeing Winnipeg’s turnaround.
TSN: Connor comes through, Byfuglien does it all for Jets. Not many teams can go into Nashville and score six goals, especially in the playoffs, but the Jets finally got the offensive game they were hoping for from Kyle Connor to gain the edge in their series against the Predators. Dave Poulin has more and explains how Dustin Byfuglien is imposing his will in the series.
Sportsnet: Peter & Paul Stastny came home to St. Louis, then asked to leave. Peter Stastny ended up making St. Louis his home after defecting from Czechoslovakia, which made it so much tougher when his son Paul was asked to waive his no-trade clause and leave the Blues.
Moose news:
Illegal Curve: Moose in 2-0 hole after 4-1 loss to Rockford. Lots happened in the game and Peter brings you inside the building to recap the game.
Winnipeg Free Press: Moose hit the road down 2-0. (Paywall). Mike recaps the festivities that took place at Bell MTS Place.
