The Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights series has delivered the excitement so far
Matt Larkin was joined by Mike McKenna and Nick Alberga to discuss how exciting the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights first round series has been on the latest episode of Daily Faceoff Live.
Matt Larkin: The Winnipeg Jets looked great in game one against Vegas coming in with a 5-1 victory. Then Vegas answers back with a 5-2 win in game two. Mark Stone back from the dead, a.k.a. LTIR, scores two goals in that one. So what is your take on the state of that series and is the momentum back in Vegas’ corner or should the Jets feel thrilled getting that split going home?
Nick Alberga: I’m loving this series boys, like I’ve watched every second of most of the games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, maybe with the exception of the Islanders/Hurricanes series. I just can’t get up to it, it’s just such a bore fest to me. But I think you look specifically to this series and it just has all of the ingredients, love the home barn in Vegas I think Winnipeg is going to be bumping.
I don’t think the Jets are your traditional eighth seed. I think the biggest story going forward for me is the goaltending. And Laurent Brossoit, full credit to him I thought he stepped up large in that 5-2 victory last night but when you have Connor Hellebuyck, I have to side with you and that’s why I took Winnipeg to win this series. But I expected that bounce-back from Vegas last night, they weathered the early storm. They were down 1-0 then 2-1 and they found a way to get the job done, at the end of the day that’s all that matters. When push comes to shove, long-term perspective on this series is that I still see a pathway for Winnipeg to win this series.
It’s just about the goaltending for me. If you look at those rosters and you look at Laurent Brossoit specifically, and I know Adin Hill has been practising but I just can’t look past Connor Hellebuyck and what he brings to the table. I’ve loved that series through two games so far.
Mike McKenna: Yeah, it’s been intense. Not from a fisticuffs standpoint but just some of the injuries that have happened. Connor Hellebuyck takes an absolute missile from Eichel off the forehead, gets a pressure cut, stays in the game. You saw what happened to Morgan Barron taking 75 stitches. This match-up here like you said, is not a true 1-8 but I wonder whoever gets out of this series, if it doesn’t take so much out of them that the next round might be a real barrier. Because I think this series is built to go six or seven games and I wonder if the energy can be there for either of these clubs in the second round.
Nick Alberga: Personally, I think it will go seven games for starters. That’s been my main takeaway, pardon the phrase but it’s been a war. It really has been a war and I think you look at the first couple of games and the fact that you know what you’re going to get from both coaches and their philosophies. Bruce Cassidy and Rick Bowness, we saw this a couple years back with the Dallas Stars being that pesky team that just keeps grinding away. And now to an extent you’re seeing that with the Winnipeg Jets who are a bit banged up right now but they’re getting goals from guys like Kevin Stenlund.
I think when you’re getting goals from your depth guys in the bottom-six it really takes you a long way. It’s also great to see guys like Jack Eichel finally play in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Mark Stone coming off the back surgery, scoring that big time goal that put the game out of reach there. Just like you guys, I’m looking forward to this series going six or seven games here.
Matt Larkin: I have the seven game prediction as well and I have the Jets in seven with goaltending being the advantage. I’m also curious what the advantage could be playing a matinee for the next game in that series. They’re both travelling at the same time, technically, but it’s still always a tough trip for those West Coast teams. In what’s going to be early in your time zone in the afternoon games.
You can watch the rest of the episode here…