Jets sticking to routine with Game Seven set for Thursday

WINNIPEG -All season long, the Winnipeg Jets have always had a routine to fall back on.
After emotional wins, tough losses, and everything in between, there is always a routine.
That won't change going into Thursday's Game Seven against the Nashville Predators, not even head coach Paul Maurice's pre-game speech.
"The message going forward is the one that was delivered all year," Maurice said, following the team's quick practice before a 1 pm CT departure to Nashville.
"There's no big speech or departure from our game. The important one that was delivered all year is to enjoy what we do.
"Have the confidence that you're going to go out and perform at your best, and certainly your best effort - but to enjoy it, the whole part: the nerves before the game, the tension of the game, the excitement of the game. It's such an important thing. You can't be on pins and needles. You've got to feel good and be excited about it."

That's exactly how the Jets feel. Even though they may be short on Game Seven experience at the NHL level, every player has been in a big game, and two wins out of the three played at Bridgestone Arena so far this series is certainly a source of confidence.
"We've had a couple good games in Nashville and now we're going to need an even better game than in our last two," said Patrik Laine. "It obviously gives us confidence but it's a new game with so much on the line and it's going to be a tight one. "
Whether it's shot attempts, shots on goal, or high-danger scoring chances, the Jets and the Predators are neck-and-neck over the last six games.

It's fitting, given the two teams finished in the top two spots in the NHL standings after the 82-game regular season.
So who will be the hero? We'll know by late Thursday night. But one thing is for sure, Nikolaj Ehlers is one of many Jets players doing everything he can to be ready for the moment.
"I'm working out there every single day to get better and that doesn't mean that I only get better by scoring. I'm trying as hard as I can to help this team win and if it comes, it comes," said Ehlers, who despite having five assists in the first 10 NHL playoff games of his career, is still searching for his first goal.

But the young Danish forward knows there are other ways to help his team, even when he's not scoring.
"Do everything else right," he said. "Skate, play simple, play fast, play well defensively - everything. Play our game plan. When it's not going in for you, you can still play great games. But as a team I think we've played some really good hockey and tomorrow we have to do it again."
That's what Maurice wants to hear from Ehlers, who scored a career-high 29 goals in the regular season, and worked hard to improve his defensive game at the same time.
Ehlers has played on three different lines in this series alone, and has created chances on all three.
"He hasn't scored yet, (but) we think he can be a huge contributor to either the line scoring or the team winning," said Maurice.
"The scoring of goals isn't the story of a player's game. It's so true in the playoffs. The team that wins the Stanley Cup is going to have two months worth of hockey, high level hockey.
"Even look at our month, the number of different players who have been the story. Connor Hellebuyck in games, Kyle Connor's big night, Brandon Tanev. Everybody, to get where we need to, is going to have to share in writing part of that story."

The next chapter of that story will be written tomorrow night, when the Jets and Predators drop the puck at 7 pm CT.
But 90 minutes before that chapter, Maurice will be in the dressing room, addressing his team.
"You have to know your team at this point. I have a pretty good idea of what I'm saying. That will be secondary to a certain kind of emotional level I'm trying to set in," said Maurice.
"You pick the day and the circumstances depend on your tone and where you're going. I don't talk to the team much after games. Never do it during the regular season. Anything I want to say, I get said before the final buzzer. I know the game we want to play tomorrow. That's what I'll talk about."