5 Keys: Jets at Predators, Game 1

JETS at PREDATORS
8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN360, TVAS
NASHVILLE -- The Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators will play Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on Friday.

It will be the first playoff series between the Predators and Jets. Nashville went 3-1-1 against Winnipeg in the regular season. The Predators (53-18-11) won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular-season team with 117 points, three ahead of the runner-up Jets (52-20-10).
RELATED: [Jets not worried about Predators having edge in playoff experience | Complete Jets vs. Predators series coverage]
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck went 4-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in the Jets' five-game win against the Minnesota Wild in the first round. Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne went 4-2 with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in six games against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
Here are 5 keys for Game 1:

1. Laine's availability

Winnipeg's leading goal-scorer, forward Patrik Laine, is expected to play.
He missed practice Wednesday
and left early on Monday and Tuesday. However, he participated in the optional morning skate Friday and said he's ready.
"It was mostly just recovery," said Laine, who led the Jets in the regular season with 44 goals. "I was pretty exhausted after the last series, so just tried to get a little bit of rest. No issues, no concerns."

2. Nashville's second line

Nashville's second line of Kyle Turris, Kevin Fiala and Craig Smith wasn't productive at even strength in the first round but expects to have a bounce-back series against Winnipeg.
"I think if we just get back to what we were doing great before, loosen up and have some fun," Smith said. "I think when we're sticking together, we're close to each other out there, and especially when we're communicating to each other, I think it kind of holds each other accountable to be at certain places and support each other. I think that support is huge. That will be a big key to possessing the puck and using our speed."

3. Experience edge

The Jets will play in the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The Predators players have a combined 1,114 playoff games compared to 364 for the Jets.
Winnipeg will have to prove it can handle the moment against a more experienced team.
"If you want to earn a Stanley Cup, you have to go through the best teams," Hellebuyck said. "This will be a great series for us, a great test to see where we're really at. I like our team. I like the way we've been playing. I like how we're built, so this is going to be a fun time."

4. Defensively responsible forwards

The Predators have arguably the best top-four defensive unit in the NHL, the forwards are also counted on to be defensively responsible. They will have to be against Winnipeg's high-powered offense, which finished second to the Tampa Bay Lightning in scoring during the regular season with 273 goals.
"I think we all take a lot of pride in the defensive side of the rink," Predators forward Colton Sissons said. "It's something that we've preached for a long time here in Nashville and something that [coach Peter Laviolette] has definitely implemented in us. It's a huge part of our game and a strength for sure."

5. High-octane offenses

The Jets and Predators combined for 41 goals in their five regular-season games. The Predators averaged 3.67 goals per game in the first round; the Jets averaged 3.20.
Nashville scored at least three goals in each game against Winnipeg in the regular season; the Jets scored at least three times in four of the five games.

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Paul Stastny -- Patrik Laine
Brandon Tanev -- Adam Lowry -- Andrew Copp
Jack Roslovic -- Bryan Little -- Matt Hendricks
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Toby Enstrom -- Dustin Byfuglien
Ben Chiarot -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Michael Hutchinson
Scratched:Tucker Poolman, Joe Morrow, Joel Armia, Shawn Matthias, Marko Dano, Sami Niku
Injured:Mathieu Perreault (upper body), Steve Mason (undisclosed), Dmitry Kulikov (lower body)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Colton Sissons -- Nick Bonino -- Austin Watson
Calle Jarnkrok -- Mike Fisher -- Miikka Salomaki
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Matt Irwin
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Scott Hartnell, Anthony Bitetto, Ryan Hartman, Eeli Tolvanen
Injured:Yannick Weber (upper body)

Status report

Chiarot was paired with Myers at the morning skate. … Watson participated in the morning skate after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday.