West Semifinal Cheat Sheet

Key:
C – Central
P – Pacific


1C Nashville vs. 2C Winnipeg

Predators: 53-18-11, 117 points
Jets: 52-20-10, 114 points


Season series: The Predators posted a 3-1-1 record against the Jets this season, including a 2-1 mark at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville outlasted Winnipeg, 6-5 in the first road meeting at Bell MTS Place on February 27 as the Predators overcame a pair of two-goal deficits. The Jets edged the Predators in the shootout one month later, 5-4, but Winnipeg erased an early 2-0 hole to pick up the win as a home favorite.

Nashville beat Winnipeg by two goals in two home wins by scores of 5-3 and 3-1. The only Jets’ victory in regulation over the Predators came on December 19 at Bridgestone Arena, 6-4 as +130 underdogs. In that contest, Nashville returned home from a perfect 3-0 western Canada road swing, but Winnipeg scored two goals in the final two minutes for the win.

Previous playoff series: The Predators eliminated the Avalanche in six games, finishing Colorado off on Sunday in a 5-0 shutout as -175 road favorites. Nashville scored five goals in three of the victories, while netting at least three goals in five of the games against Colorado.

The Jets also pulled off a 5-0 shutout in eliminating the Wild in five games, including a perfect 3-0 home record. For the exception of a Game 3 blowout loss at Minnesota, the Jets outscored the Wild, 14-3 in the four victories, while finishing UNDER the total in four of five games in the series.

1P Vegas vs. 3P San Jose

Golden Knights: 51-24-7, 109 points
Sharks: 45-27-10, 100 points


Season series: The Golden Knights owned the Sharks this season by putting together a 3-0-1 record. In the first meeting between the franchises on November 24 at T-Mobile Arena, Vegas edged San Jose in overtime, 5-4. The Sharks overcame a 4-1 deficit to force OT, but Jonathan Marchessault’s goal lifted the Golden Knights to victory as short underdogs.

The only matchup decided by more than one goal was Vegas’ 5-3 triumph at SAP Center in early February as the Golden Knights scored a trio of third period goals for the win. The Sharks broke through with a 2-1 home overtime triumph on March 22 as San Jose outshot Vegas, 44-25. The Knights got past the Sharks in the final meeting, 3-2 on March 31 back in Sin City as William Karlsson’s short-handed goal in the third period vaulted Vegas to victory.

Previous playoff series:The Golden Knights entered their first season in the NHL not predicted to be a factor in the postseason, or at least qualify for the playoffs. Vegas not only captured the Pacific division title, but swept through the first round by knocking out Los Angeles in four games. The Golden Knights posted only seven goals in the entire series, but also allowed just three goals, including two shutouts in Games 1 and 4 from Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Sharks were first-round victims to the upstart Oilers last season in six games, but San Jose began this postseason with a bang by eliminating state rival Anaheim in a four-game sweep. Two of the victories came by one goal each, while routing the Ducks in Game 3 by an 8-1 count. San Jose limited Anaheim to four goals in the series, as the Sharks picked up their first playoff sweep since downing Vancouver in the 2013 opening round.