Winnipeg Jets Strafe Predators, Become Canada's Team
One season ago, the Nashville Predators eased into the Stanley Cup playoffs' second wild card spot with a 41-29-12 record.
They had a seven-point cushion on the hard-charging Winnipeg Jets -- 94-87 -- who rode a seven-game winning streak into early tee times.
Soon thereafter, the Smashville saga was born.
OK, so every new tradition needs a bitta refinement along the way.
Meanwhile, it took the Jets a while to return to those winning ways in the new season, but when they figured it out, the streaks just kept on coming:
- 29 Oct to 3 Dec ... Winnipeg went 11-2-2;
- 17 Dec to 9 Jan ... dudes went 8-1-2;
- 13 Feb to 8 Mar ... they went 9-2-0; and
- 15 Mar to 7 Apr ... the Jets wrapped the regular season by going 11-1-0.
By then, the Preds had claimed the uncoveted Presidents Trophy, but by a mere three points -- 117-114 -- making the Jets' campaign good for second-best in the entire league.
Thus, while the dynamic storylines involving the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights played out, the real clash of titans went to Game 7 in the city that hosts Titans.
And what a stunner it was, starting with perpetual Vezina candidate Pekka Rinne going uncharacteristally Sta-Puft right outta the gate:
Amazingly, for a series that went the distance, this 5-1 decider was SOP.
Five of the seven games were decided by three or more goals.
Long story short, Winnipeg's playmakers stepped up throughout the proceedings, and Nashville's did not.
As a result, one of the most improbable conference final match-ups in recent history is on the cards:
A club that didn't exist at this time last seaon against one that was on the outside looking in.
And nationalistic Canadians -- conveniently oblivious to the fact that most NHL teams are loaded with their fellow countrymen -- still have a standard bearer in the hunt for a Cup.
Rocky and Bullwinkle were actually from Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, but what the hell.
They're too wired on the Prairie these days to sweat the details.