NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Winnipeg Jets are headed to the first Western Conference final in their short history after knocking off the NHL’s best team in the regular season.
Tyler Myers and Paul Stastny scored 2:06 apart in the first period, and the Jets stunned the Nashville Predators 5-1 on Thursday night in their first Game 7 — continuing an amazing run for a team swept in its previous two playoff appearances.
Four Michigan natives will be a part of the Jets' Western Conference Final roster. Jacob Trouba (Rochester), Andrew Copp (Ann Arbor), and Kyle Connor (Shelby Township) all played for the University of Michigan. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck hails from Commerce Township.
Four hockey players from the state of Michigan are heading to the Western Conference Final with the Jets:
-Jacob Trouba (Rochester)
-Andrew Copp (Ann Arbor)
-Kyle Connor (Shelby Twp.)
-Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce Twp.) pic.twitter.com/HY9W3LDFaH— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) May 11, 2018
Stastny finished with a second goal and an assist, and Mark Scheifele also had two goals. Blake Wheeler and Connor each had two assists.
Hellebuyck made 36 saves for Winnipeg, which won three of four games in Nashville after missing the Presidents’ Trophy by three points to the Predators.
The Jets now host Vegas in Game 1 on Saturday night in a conference final nobody could’ve predicted when this season started.
P.K. Subban scored for Nashville, now the ninth Presidents’ Trophy winner in 10 years not to win the Stanley Cup.
