| Broadcast Schedule |
|---|
| Time: 6:30 P.M. CDT |
| TV: SN, TVAS2, USA, FS-N |
| Radio: TSN1290 |
Having emerged victorious from Game Four in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild, the Winnipeg Jets have the chance this evening to book their ticket to the Western Conference semifinals.
The playoff series now sits at a three-to-one advantage for Winnipeg, a feat they equalled during the regular season. However, they will be without top pairing defender Josh Morrissey as he serves a one-game suspension for his high crosscheck to Eric Staal.
With Morrissey’s absence, there was talk that Sami Niku could slot in, but Tyler Myers has returned from injury and will play tonight. Tucker Poolman also stays in the lineup.
Steve Mason left the morning skate with an apparent injury, so it may be Jamie Phillips backing up Connor Hellebuyck tonight. Or the Jets call up one of Eric Comrie or Michael Hutchinson to do the honours. I’m also available, if the price is right.
If the shot totals in game five are anything similar to what they were in game one and game two, defence may not be that grave of a concern for Winnipeg. They outshot the Wild by a combined 88-37 during those two games, and Paul Maurice’s line matching effectively negated any threat that Minnesota’s top line could generate. However, part of that was due to the play of Josh Morrissey, so it will be interesting to see how the team adjusts tonight.
Fact: since being named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, Connor Hellebuyck has not allowed a goal. Also a fact: being a good goaltender in the playoffs does not guarantee you success. Just ask Jonathan Quick.
This will be desperation hockey for the Wild tonight, and if it isn’t it definitely should be. The Jets should want it just as bad: going back to Minnesota is not an ideal scenario.
Immortality! Take it! It’s yours!
| Winnipeg Jets | Stats | Minnesota Wild |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1 | Series | 1-3 |
| 52-20-10 | Record | 45-26-11 |
| 114 | Points | 101 |
| 2nd Central | Division | 3rd Central |
| 2nd West | Conference | 4th West |
| 5-0-0 | Last 5 | 2-2-1 |
| 277 | Goals For | 253 |
| 218 | Goals Against | 232 |
| Regular Season | ||
| Patrik Laine (44) | Goals | Eric Staal (42) |
| Blake Wheeler (68) | Assists | Mikael Granlund (46) |
| Wheeler (91) | Points | Staal (76) |
| Connor Hellebuyck (44) | Wins | Devan Dubnyk (35) |
| Hellebuyck (2.36) | Goals Against Average | Dubnyk (2.52) |
| Hellebuyck (.924) | Save Percentage | Dubnyk (.918) |
| 23.4 (5th) | Power Play % | 20.4 (18th) |
| 81.8 (9th) | Penalty Kill % | 81.2 (13th) |
| Playoffs | ||
| Mark Scheifele (3) | Goals | Zach Parise (3) |
| Dustin Byfuglien (3) | Assists | Mikko Koivu (4) |
| Patrik Laine (4) | Points | Koivu (4) |
| Connor Hellebuyck (3) | Wins | Devan Dubnyk (1) |
| Steve Mason (0.00) | Goals Against Average | Dubnyk (2.54) |
| Mason (1.000) | Save Percentage | Dubnyk (.929) |
| 18.2 (10th) | Power Play % | 30.0 (4th) |
| 70.0 (13th) | Penalty Kill % | 81.8 (7th) |
| 3-1-0 | Season record between | 1-3-0 |
| 20-17-1-2 | Overall record (W-L-T-OTL/SOL) | 19-16-1-4 |
Enemy Territory
Minnesota Wild Coverage: Hockey Wilderness
GAME 5 – Facing elimination, the Wild shakes up its roster to try to stop the Jets https://t.co/Pjj0snuxHk
— Hockey Wilderness (@hockeywildernes) April 20, 2018
Last Game:
Winnipeg Jets 2-0 Minnesota Wild
Mark Scheifele provided all the offence in a close game that saw Hellebuyck notch the first post-season shutout in Jets 2.0/Thrashers or even Jets 1.0 history.
Players to watch:
Winnipeg Jets
Without his regular defence partner at his side, Jacob Trouba will face extra pressure to shut down the best that the Wild have to throw at him. While his play in Game Three was not his best, Trouba has proven before that he can be very effective defensively. With this being a contract year, what a terrific opportunity to earn some extra coin, right?
Minnesota Wild
Four games. No goals. No assists. Six shots.
Not good enough.
Despite coming off a career high 64 points in 82 games, Jason Zucker has been largely absent in this series.
He scored 33 goals this year, but hasn’t gotten it going at all in the playoffs. Part of that is due to being shut down by Morrissey and Trouba in the first couple of games, but even on home ice Zucker has been more of an observer than a threat.
