WINNIPEG — It’s the day Jets’ players, coaches and Winnipeg fans have been waiting for.
Game one of the best of seven series between the Jets and Ducks starts tonight in Anaheim.
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“A year of grinding and working and sweating and competing to get to this,” said Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice.
WATCH: Winnipeg Jets warm up and talk about the upcoming playoffs game against Anaheim Ducks:
Players like Chris Thorburn have been looking forward to a series like this for their entire career. The forward has played more than 600 games without any NHL playoff action and he’s ready to end that streak Thursday.
“You work all year for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup and make the playoffs so… it’s exciting but… I don’t want to get awe struck,” said Thorburn.
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And the pressure is on for players making their NHL playoff debuts.
“Obviously there’s going to be a lot of nerves but… it’s going to be a fast game out there and the guys that adapt quickest are going to be successful,” said Mark Scheifele.
“I’ve played in a couple of big games over my career… it’ll be different, the first couple of minutes but then I’ll get settled in,” said Jacob Trouba.
Head coach Paul Maurice said the team will deal directly with all the excitement and inexperience heading into the first game.
“There’s going to be adversity, there’s going to be challenges… we will have guaranteed more experience when we’re done this playoff series and run, whatever happens,” said Maurice.
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