Jets-Stars
This will be a pretty quick series, IMO. Dallas is riding a confidence high in coming out on top of the only heavyweight series in the first round with Colorado, a classic case of two Cup contenders playing each other with one team left standing. Ironically, their opposition now will be a step down from Colorado.
The Jets, meanwhile, went the distance against the wildcard St. Louis Blues, who made the playoffs for the first time in a long time and barely limped out of the series, which is not a good sign. Ever since they moved from Atlanta, the Jets have developed a reputation as playoff chokers. But, as we've seen this season, even playoff chokers can beat "first time in the playoffs" teams.
On paper, the Jets are a team with great firepower, a solid defence, and great depth. However, as a team the Jets can never seem to elevate their play in the playoffs and thus, they've made it to the third round once since they left Atlanta. That's it. Not even a cup Finals appearance.
Nowhere is this vacuum of motivation more evident then in Connor Hellebuyck. Dude has won the Vezina trophy two years running, and yet he disappears come playoff time. How can you be so good in the regular season and yet always crap it during the playoffs? I don't understand this phenomenon.
If Hellebuyck falters - which if history comes true, he will - his backup is journeyman Eric Comrie, who made his playoff debut in round one with three - yes, three - relief appearances for the struggling starter. However, that sum total of his playoff experience is ~ 70% of a single game. Now granted he's done well in those appearances, but this is an extremely short sample size and thus it's hard to know who head coach Scott Arniel should start in the series because it really is a paradoxical choice of pick your poison when it comes to the Jets goaltending.
Not to pin this all on Hellebuyck of course - the whole team tends to disappear come playoff time. The fact they have the pressure of being the President's Trophy winners certainly doesn't help. Combine this with the Jet's checkered playoff history and the fact that everyone seems to disappear when it matters most means the Jets are toting around more baggage than an airport.
Dallas as a team that can match the Jets in firepower up front and on the back end, combined with better goaltending against a stronger opponent in the first round, means they will easily handle the Jets and move onto the second round for the second consecutive year. Also, I have an acronym when it comes to the Jets - ABAW - Always Bet Against Winnipeg. Say it with a Boston accent and it sounds like the phrase "A bar." :) Prove me wrong, Jets, prove me wrong, and then I'll believe more in you.
My prediction - Stars sweep the Jets 4-0