Maurice wants Jets to embrace the challenge of Game Five against Vegas

WINNIPEG - The further a team goes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the more intense the pressure becomes.
For the Winnipeg Jets, who face a 3-1 series deficit to the Vegas Golden Knights, that pressure has now reached its highest level.
The need a win in Game Five tomorrow at Bell MTS Place to keep the Western Conference Final going. It's this kind of pressure that head coach Paul Maurice knows his team will embrace.
The Jets have faced elimination only once so far in the postseason, and came through in Game Seven against the Nashville Predators in the Second Round.
"I want them to take their experience between Game Six and Seven, and create the environment they created there - where they came out with an excitement and a smile on their face," Maurice said. "Going into Game Seven, there was as much pressure in that game as there was here. It's the exact same game. This one is at home, we'll need that crowd, and they've been great for us.
"Both teams, all four teams now, there is not quite as much in the tank as there was before, so you're looking to draw on that."

The key is not to get tied up in the thought of having to win three in a row.
It all starts with winning one.
"That's been our operating procedure all year," said Maurice.
"We've been under that procedure all year. The idea of winning three in the playoffs in a row in any series is a daunting task. The idea of one, is perfectly understandable.
"How you mentally frame things is important…. We know we're capable of winning a hockey game against any of the (30) teams."

The majority of the Jets stayed off the ice on Saturday, with only Michael Hutchinson, and seven skaters that didn't play in Game Four on the ice at Bell MTS Iceplex.
A meeting followed shortly after, and then, the players were on their own to prepare for Sunday's 2 pm CT start in whatever way they see fit.
"I'll play some video games," said Adam Lowry. "You have a routine going into the night before a game. You have certain things you're going to want to do. You just try and get back to doing that routine. For me, I'm going to play some video games."
Lowry's line mate, Andrew Copp, says he'll likely watch a bit of the Eastern Conference Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals, chat with some family and friends, before getting to bed.
He knows the Jets are doing the right things. The difference the last two games have just been bounces going the way of the Golden Knights.
The main focus is getting off to a good start. After getting the first goal in Game One, the Jets have given up the game's opening marker in each of the last three.
"It's going to be really important, not only just to score the first, but have a good start," said Copp. "It felt like we actually started okay last game, we just got into penalty trouble early. That can determine how it looks like you start.
"They've probably had the better starts in the series, so I think getting off to a good start is going to be really important tomorrow."
Winnipeg outshot Vegas 37-29 in Game Five, and also held the edge in shot attempts (at even strength) by a 64-47 margin.
But Lowry says there is even more the Jets can do to make things difficult for Marc-Andre Fleury.
"We're doing a good job getting in front of him. Now it's kind of finding those second and third opportunities," said Lowry. "He's doing a good job of stopping that first shot. They do a good job of not allowing any free ice in front of him. It seems like pucks have been bouncing past our first layer, and our second layer. We need to continue doing what we're doing, and I think it'll start to come for us."

The meeting the Jets had on Saturday afternoon was exactly 24 hours from when the puck will drop on Game Five against the Golden Knights.
While the tendency could be to grip the sticks tight, or be nervous, with the season on the line, Maurice wants his players to frame it a different way.
"These are the best games - always are. When everything is on the line, everybody will be at their most excited," said Maurice. "You have to find a way. It shouldn't be very difficult to love every minute of it.
"The greater the stakes, in anything we think, especially when you live a life in pro sports - eventually that's what it's all about - this has to be your finest hour. Not even before the puck drops, I'm not talking about the play. Be able to get your mind - this is the most fun game of the year now."