Jets, Maple Leafs geared up for Stanley Cup Playoffs

TORONTO -- With his trademark scraggly growth dangling from his chin, Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine has this playoff beard thing down. When it comes to Stanley Cup Playoffs experience, that's another story.
Laine said as much after a
3-1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs
at Air Canada Centre on Saturday. The Jets played a grinding game at both ends of the ice, leading to the obvious question of Laine: Was this the type of suffocating style he expects in the postseason?

"I have no idea," Laine said. "I've never played an NHL playoff game before so I'm not going to tell you what it's going to be like."
Laine's comments are a reflection of how far both the Jets and Maple Leafs have come in such a short time.
Two years ago, there were no Canadian-based teams in the playoffs, an occurrence that hadn't happened since 1970. As such, the biggest hockey-related buzz in Canada at that time came from the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo when the Maple Leafs made forward Auston Matthews the No. 1 pick and the Jets followed by selecting Laine No. 2.
Twenty-two months later, the Maple Leafs and Jets have clinched playoff berths and will be the only teams representing Canada in the postseason.
The Jets (48-20-10, 106 points) have locked up at least second place in the Central Division. They are five points behind the Nashville Predators for first. The Maple Leafs (47-25-7, 101 points) will finish third in the Atlantic Division, and will play either the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
Though Matthews and Laine deserve credit for bringing respectability back to their respective franchises, they haven't done it alone. And, more importantly, they haven't had to.
"There are similarities between the two teams, sure," Laine said. "Both have a lot of great young talent. It can't be up to one or two guys. There has to be a foundation of skilled players and with these teams, there is."
Laine, 19, leads an impressive cache of 25-and-under players on the Jets roster, one that includes forwards Kyle Connor (21), Nikolaj Ehlers (22), Mark Scheifele (25), defensemen Josh Morrissey (23), Jacob Trouba (24) and goalie Connor Hellebucyk (24).
Matthews, 20, heads a cast of Maple Leafs youngsters like forwards Mitchell Marner (20), Kasperi Kapanen (21), William Nylander (24), Zach Hyman (25), Andreas Johnsson (23), Connor Brown (24) and defensemen Morgan Rielly (24) and Travis Dermott (21).

"You see a lot of the same things when you look at both our teams," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. "In our case, you have to thank our ownership for letting these kids develop and being patient."
Patience was also evident in the Jets' win against the Maple Leafs. After building a 3-1 lead in the second period, Winnipeg made smart plays, clogged up the passing lanes and used its speed to make fluid transitions from offense to defense.
"They're a really good team," Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner said. "We took a few penalties that cost us. And their power play is good, obviously.
"That was kind of a playoff atmosphere tonight. It was a good game to get us ready."
Unlike the Jets, the Maple Leafs did get a taste of the postseason a year ago, losing its Eastern Conference First Round Series to the Washington Capitals in six games. Among the lessons learned: being in the playoffs will not be satisfactory enough this season.
"We understand better the hype, the tight style of play, the elevated competition," Brown said. "It's the type of experience that is invaluable moving forward this year."
The Jets don't have that experience. Judging by the way they played in defeating the Maple Leafs, it just looked like they did.
"These are two teams that are tuning up for the playoffs," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "They are a dangerous team, especially offensively, so you have to make sure you stick to the plan."
Especially when you are about to test uncharted waters like Laine and the Jets are about to.