Winnipeg and Calgary could blow out for the last playoff spot
New York. The stars who didn’t swap with them in March are all injured – including Philipp Forsberg, Romain Jozy, Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen.
However, the Nashville Predators managed to shut out mighty Carolina last night — and now, in all fairness, they have the chance to blow both Winnipeg and Calgary into the final playoff stage in the Western Conference.
“Young people are hungry and doing the right things just because of it,” says coach John Haynes.
For weeks, if not months, the debate has raged over whether the Winnipeg Jets or Calgary Flames will take over the Finals spot in the West, and as recently as a day ago, the focus was still on the two teams.
But behind them, Nashville poured in points, reaped relentlessly and suddenly they were a real threat – which has to be considered the biggest sensation of the entire season.
It’s only been a month since the club’s management officially gave up and sacked the likes of Matthias Ekholm, Mikael Granlund, Tanner Janow and Nino Niedretter. During this striking push, injured players Philipp Forsberg, Romain Jozy, Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen all disappeared.
“Young people are hungry”
All the same: They won three of their last four games and thus eliminated the Carolina Metropolitans at Bridgestone Arena last night.
– The foundation is good at aiming the goal and Juuse Saros was exceptional and he was again tonight, when he stopped 33 shots, says coach John Hynes.
– But we also play a great game as a team. Young people are hungry and doing the right things just because. They played great as a pack in this match.
Calgary and Winnipeg meet
Yes, previously unknown talents – slight exaggeration, but whatever – like Tommy Novak, Luke Evangelista, and Spencer Stastney play veterans who love nothing more than games where everything is on the line.
And with that, they will satiate in the near future, who will the Predators face next? Well, Winnipeg (on Easter Eve) and Calgary (on Boxing Day). If they also win those matches, they can cross the line and rise above the line.
The goal has been all along, that we keep playing meaningful matches and learn something new every time. This must be fun, Hines continues.
Jets and Flames probably don’t think so.