5 Keys: Jets at Predators, Game 7

JETS at PREDATORS
8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS
Best-of-7 series tied 3-3
NASHVILLE -- The Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators will try to advance to the Western Conference Final when they play Game 7 of the second round at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

The winner will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
RELATED: [Nashville ready for Game 7 | Hellebuyck calm entering Game 7 | Complete Predators vs. Jets series coverage]
The Predators will host a Game 7 for the first time. The Jets will play in a Game 7 for the first time in franchise history.
The home team is 100-70 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Here are 5 keys for Game 7:

1. Score first

The team that scores the first goal in a Game 7 is 126-44 (.741). In this series, the team that scores first is 5-1.
"You always want to play with the lead," Predators forward Ryan Johansen said. "It's very tough in this league to come back on teams, especially this time of year with the goaltending that Winnipeg has and the depth they have. So it's very important to get off to a good start."

2. Continue road trend

The Jets have won two of three games at Bridgestone Arena, outscoring the Predators 14-8. The road teams are a combined 4-2 in the series.
"We've had a couple good games in Nashville," Jets forward Patrik Laine said. "Now we're going to need an even better game than the last two. Obviously, it gives us confidence, but it's probably going to be a whole different game. So much on the line. It's going to be a tight one."

3. Emphasis on defense

The Predators' two best defensive efforts came in a 2-1 win in Game 4 and a 4-0 victory in Game 6; each came on the road. They must find a way to replicate that at home and balance their offense with strong defense.
"There's been some crazy games, a few of those, but I still find that when we're on the attack, and when we have the puck and when we're creating chances, that's our game and that's when we're going," goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "Obviously, there's a balance between attacking and playing defensive. [Games 4 and 6] are really good examples of that."

4. Short memory

Neither team has won two games in a row in the series. The Jets must move on from the loss in Game 6 and refocus for an elimination game.
"It's really gone back and forth throughout the whole the series with teams forgetting the last game," defenseman Jacob Trouba said. "That's something we talked about before the playoffs even started, how momentum doesn't carry between games, that it's a fresh game and new slate. So we're looking forward to the challenge there."

5. Enjoy the moment

For the 10th consecutive season, the second round of the playoffs will conclude with a Game 7. The eventual Stanley Cup champion has won a Game 7 in each of the past five years.
The Predators and Jets each must embrace the challenge and overcome the pressure to reach the conference final.
"The teams that are successful are the ones that stick to their game plans the longest, no matter the situation," Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "As soon as you veer from your game plan, that's when it gets interesting."

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Paul Stastny -- Patrik Laine
Brandon Tanev -- Adam Lowry -- Andrew Copp
Mathieu Perreault -- Bryan Little -- Joel Armia
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Toby Enstrom -- Dustin Byfuglien
Ben Chiarot -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Steve Mason
Scratched:Tucker Poolman, Joe Morrow, Shawn Matthias, Marko Dano, Jack Roslovic, Matt Hendricks
Injured: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
Scott Hartnell -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Ryan Hartman
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Miikka Salomaki, Eeli Tolvanen, Matt Irwin, Harry Zolnierczyk
Injured:Mike Fisher (undisclosed)

Status report

The Jets and Predators each held an optional morning skate. … Fisher and Irwin did not participate. Fisher did not play in the final two periods of Game 6 and Irwin left practice early Wednesday.