Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: Jets vs. Ducks

In a first-ever playoff meeting, the Winnipeg Jets will look to the likes of Blake Wheeler, and use their identity as a physical team to challenge the Anaheim Ducks’ blue line with their combination of youth and veteran presence.

After finishing first in the Western Conference, the Anaheim Ducks draw the Winnipeg Jets in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Jets are making their first playoff appearance since the franchise relocated from Atlanta, which should make for an absolutely wild atmosphere at the MTS Centre.

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The Ducks have historically been a great regular season team under head coach Bruce Boudreau but have not been able to find the same success in the post-season. They’ll be in tough against a physical Jets squad that will have Dustin Byfuglien in the lineup.

Can Winnipeg’s goaltending hold up on the big stage? That may be the defining story of the series.

(P1) vs. (WC2)
G1 Thurs., April 16 Winnipeg @ Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet
G2 Sat., April 18 Winnipeg @ Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet
G3 Mon., April 20 Anaheim @ Winnipeg, 9 p.m. ET Sportsnet
G4 Wed., April 22 Anaheim @ Winnipeg, 9:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet
G5* Fri., April 24 Winnipeg @ Anaheim, TBD Sportsnet
G6* Sun., April 26 Anaheim @ Winnipeg, TBD Sportsnet
G7* Tues., April 28 Winnipeg @ Anaheim, TBD Sportsnet
• Play-by-play: Dave Randorf; Game Analyst: Garry Galley; Reporter: Cassie Campbell-Pascall
• Damien Cox covers the series for sportsnet.ca
• GamePlus features available in Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE

WINNIPEG JETS: 43-26-13. 8th in Western Conference

jetz

ANAHEIM DUCKS: 51-24-7. 1st in Western Conference

duckz

Head-to-head:
Winnipeg: 0-1-2
Anaheim: 3-0-0

Last game played head-to-head: On Jan. 11, Anaheim defenceman Sami Vatanen scored in the sixth round of the shootout to lift the Ducks to a 5-4 victory over Winnipeg. The Ducks rallied back from a two-goal deficit in the third period to pick up a win on the night Teemu Selanne was honoured in an emotional pre-game ceremony.

LEADING SCORERS
Winnipeg: Andrew Ladd (62), Blake Wheeler (61), Bryan Little (52).
Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf (70), Corey Perry (55), Ryan Kesler (47).

ADVANCED STATS
Winnipeg: 5on5CF% – 52.7; 5on5Sv% – .924; 5on5Sh% – 7.84; PDO = 100.3
Anaheim: 5on5CF% – 51.1; 5on5Sv% – .919; 5on5Sh% – 8.53; PDO = 100.4
(via stats.hockeyanalysis.com)

PAST 10 GAMES
Winnipeg: 6-3-1
Anaheim: 6-4-0

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LAST TIME THEY MET IN THE PLAYOFFS: The Ducks and Jets have never faced off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before.

WINNIPEG’S HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Jets forward Bryan Little goes into second gear and scores only nine seconds in.

ANAHEIM’S HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Ryan Kesler powers his way past Sam Gagner and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and whips a puck past Mike Smith to score a beautiful short-handed goal.

KEY INJURIES

Winnipeg: Mathieu Perreault (day-to-day: lower-body), Paul Postma (day-to-day: lower-body), Grant Clitsome (IR: back surgery)

Anaheim: N/A

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