The Winnipeg Jets made the 2023 playoffs. In the off-season, this would have been looked at as a gigantic success, and while throughout most of the season, wildcard #2 may have sounded like a disappointment, they are still in.

They will be taking on the Vegas Golden Knights in a best-of-7 series, and while the #1 team in the west versus the #8 seed isn't always favourable, I like the Jets' chances.

So, how do the two teams match up?

Forwards

Winnipeg Jets Projected Forwards:

Connor-Dubois-Scheifele
Ehlers*-Namestnikov-Wheeler
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Gustafsson-Maenalainen

*Ehlers will be a game-time decision after suffering an upper-body injury, listed as day-to-day. Kevin Stenlund is also listed as a game-time decision.

Vegas Golden Knights Projected Forwards:

Barbashev-Eichel-Marchessault
Smith-Karlsson-Kessel
Amadio-Stephenson-Stone
Howden-Roy-Kolesar

The Golden Knights have three really strong top lines, with a star on each line. The Jets have a similar amount of talent, but have their lines constructed in a top-heavy manner. It will be interesting to see how these two forward groups get matched up against each other. With Mark Stone making his way back into the Knights' lineup, he is a true wildcard in this series.

Stone underwent back surgery in January, and is set to go for Game 1. Some will point at the timing as some more cap shenanigans by Vegas, and while it may be, this matched up with the timeline Stone was given. Stephenson and Stone on the third line is a testament of how their depth is, and while the Jets have three good top lines, with just one glaring hole (Namestnikov on the 2nd line at center), I have to give the edge to Vegas' forward group.

Just because they may not beat out the team on paper doesn't mean anything, however. This lineup has been getting things done for the Jets. I stated Namestnikov in his spot as a hole in the lineup, and while he may not be the most ideal 2C, he has been playing well there. I was a big fan of the addition at the time, and he has been reinforcing that with his play.

The top line of Connor-Dubois-Scheifele is the best line in this series. If they can get going, and stay hot, they may be an X-factor in the Jets' success when looking at the two forward groups colliding.

Defense

Winnipeg Jets Projected Defense:

Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Samberg-Schmidt

Vegas Golden Knights Projected Defense:

Martinez-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theadore
Hagg-Whitecloud

These are two very...very different types of defense groups. The Jets have a better times moving the puck with players like Morrissey, Pionk, Schmidt and even Samberg, while McNabb, Martinez and Hagg will drop in front of any puck and play a mean, physical game.

It is hard to give to edge to either group. Morrissey had a stellar season, and Pietrangelo is capable of playing that way too, and again, while completely different, they both have strong defensive depth.

The Jets will need to rely on Pionk to play a better two-way game than he has demonstrated at points this season. Samberg has been a really solid player and while he can help with the transition, him and DeMelo have been fantastic defensively. I expect to see them get a lot of matchups against the top Vegas lines.

Goaltending

Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit will be the starting goaltenders headed into the series, and while there are a number of goalies who could step in for Vegas at points in the series (Adin Hill, Jonathan Quick, Logan Thompson), regardless what they do, Hellebuyck is the goalie of the series.

I think the series will come down to just how well Hellebuyck plays. The Jets can hold their own against the rest of the lineup, but if Hellebuyck can play the way he did down the stretch, he will dictate the series.

Brossoit had a solid season in a small sample size, but when games became as important as they were, Hellebuyck was playing his best. If he can stay red-hot, this will be the Jets' series to lose.

As I mentioned, it makes perfect sense for the odds to be in Vegas' favour (ironic, eh?), but the Jets shouldn't be looked at lightly. They will make this a close series. Every game should be high-paced, intense hockey, and this could be one of the most underrated series' of the entire playoffs. It should be exciting.

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