Broadcaster Blog: Setting the Table for Preds vs. Jets

The hockey world has been looking forward to this for months: Nashville Predators versus Winnipeg Jets. Not only are they the top two point-getters in the NHL, but the clubs played perhaps the most entertaining regular-season series of anyone.
On Tuesday on the Preds flagship station, 102.5 The Game, the "Darren and Daunic" show had two insightful interviews to set the table for the series:

Pierre LeBrun: TSN and The Athletic:
LeBrun covered the Jets' first-round victory over the Minnesota, in which they overpowered the Wild in five games. He'll be covering this series as well from start to finish. Here are some subjects:
Health of the Jets:
The Jets won their series relatively easily without a fully healthy roster. With about a week to rest, banged up players such as defensemen Tyler Myers and Tobias Enstrom have a chance of healing up. LeBrun speculates that despite the potential rust factor, all things being equal, Winnipeg will benefit from the extra time off.
Who Takes the First Line?
The Preds will be forced to make "pick your poison" decisions with matching up personnel against the two powerful "first" lines the Jets will deploy.
The fact that Winnipeg's phenom, Patrik Laine, scored 44 goals this season and is not on their first line tells you everything you need to know about the Jets' firepower. Nashville's elite defensemen will have their challenges to be certain. Who will Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette match Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban against? Who will Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis draw most often?
Outstanding Depth:
Forwards Austin Watson and Colton Sissons were outstanding in the first round for the Predators, and the Jets have excellent players on the bottom six as well. Rugged forwards like Joel Armia and Adam Lowry, in particular, stood out for Winnipeg in the first round.
Trouba Trouble:
A first-round pick from the deep 2013 Draft, Jacob Trouba is a talent. Injuries limited him to only 55 regular-season games, and he missed three of the head-to-head matchups with Nashville, but he is now healthy and played a shutdown role in the Minnesota series for the Jets.
Hellebuyck Transformation:
LeBrun did a recent feature article for "The Athletic" chronicling the remarkable turnaround of the Jets' Vezina Trophy finalist, Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck was a relatively unknown prospect out of the Michigan high school system and then got noticed after playing for an American junior team called the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL.
After rising up to the NHL, Hellebuyck had a disappointing season in 2016-17 and sought help outside of the Winnipeg organization. That can be a risky move, but Jets Goaltending Coach (and former Predator) Wade Flaherty bought in - even participating along with Hellebuyck. The results have been remarkable.
Andrew Berkshire, Sportsnet analyst:
Berkshire is an analytics specialist who has a unique perspective on the game. Here are a couple of topics we hit on with him:
Goaltender Interference:
The ongoing evolution of the goaltender interference review system will continue to be a high area of scrutiny. Berkshire wonders if further changes need to be made in the future.
Vezina Finalists Go Head to Head:
Berkshire provides detail on some of the finer points of what each team will do to challenge these top level goalies. He points out the adjustments Pekka Rinne has made to improve this season, specifically having more success on the in-tight saves from right in front of the net.
Jets or Avalanche?
The Jets are much deeper in talent than Colorado, but there is also a difference in style as well. While the Avs excel at creating their offensive chances on the rush, the Jets are more effective in the "cycle and forecheck" game down low. Berkshire points out that analytically the Predators defend the style of the Jets much better.
High Scoring?
The Jets and Preds combined for 41 goals in the five regular-season meetings and were wildly entertaining games. Berkshire called it "appointment viewing" and hopes the fans get to see a similar style.
Lots of Special Teams?
Winnipeg and Nashville are two of the top-five teams in the NHL in times shorthanded. They both have excellent power plays too. The Predators did a sensational job of killing off Colorado power plays (they did not allow a single 5-on-4 goal during the series). Nashville had trouble against the Jets PP in the regular-season series at times (Winnipeg went 6-for-19 for 31.6 percent). Berkshire points out some of the tactics the Jets use to be effective.
The Predators were also effective with their power play against Winnipeg, going 5-for-16 in the five games (31.2 percent). In the postseason, sometimes the standard of what is and what is not called a penalty can be a big question. How much the officials "let them play" will be a major factor.