WINNIPEG – After waiting for 19 years, Winnipeg Jets fans have a playoff series to be excited about again.
The Jets face the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with their first away game on Thursday.
READ MORE: Winnipeg Jets start playoffs Thursday in Anaheim
The teams played three times during the regular season with the Ducks winning every meeting, once in overtime and the last time in a shootout.
“The Jets are a vastly different team, they’re a deeper team, they can come at you on all four lines now,” said 680 CJOB sports host Jim Toth. “Tyler Myers adds a different dynamic… that Anaheim hasn’t seen or been prepared for and I think Ondrej Pavelec is playing much better than he was.”
The Jets’ road to the post season was one full of bumps, with numerous injuries along the way. Many fans are hoping the team can use their experience overcoming adversity as an advantage in the playoffs.
“Even though they’ve gone through all that adversity, they’ve done it and they haven’t given up…. they need to use that,” said Jets fan Tim Church.
And head coach Paul Maurice is confident in the captains leading the team into the series.
“You look at Wheeler, Stuart and Ladd, watch them practice and then watch them play and know how they came to training camp, the condition those three guys came in so there’s your tone setters,” said Maurice.
But it’s coaching that could make the difference.
“Whoever gets the most out of their players will win this series and right now Paul Maurice is getting the most out of his players,” said Toth.
Comments