This is the first time the Wild has faced off against the Jets in the playoffs, but coach Bruce Boudreau has been in Winnipeg before for the postseason.
Three years ago, when he was behind the bench for the Ducks, Anaheim swept the Jets, and getting ahead of the home team was key – an advantage the Wild will look to create when its first-round series gets underway Wednesday at Bell MTS Place.
Puck drop is 6 p.m.
"It was loud until we got the lead," Boudreau recalled about that 2015 playoff series. "The key is to get the lead and keep them quiet. But it's tough to do because they got a lot of hope this year, and they've been at the top of the league the whole year. So I'm pretty sure they're gearing themselves up for a long run."
Winnipeg's regular-season prowess (it exceeded 50 wins and nearly finished with 115 points) has it pegged as the favorite in this matchup, a distinction that hasn't gone unnoticed by the Wild. But there's still a sense of confidence among the group, perhaps a feeling indicative of its experience with 15 players logging at least 20 games of playoff experience; the Jets have just five players with those credentials.
"You'd have to be blind not to see if, especially with Canadian TV everywhere," Boudreau said of the Wild's underdog status. "But I'm sure we know where Winnipeg stands, and rightfully so. They've won nine out of 10. They're second overall in the league. I can see why teams are picking them all. We're here. We're going to play this game. We're glad we're invited to play, so we'll give it our best shot."
Defenseman Jared Spurgeon remains a game-time decision, but it seems likely he'll suit up.
"I don't expect him to play 30 minutes tonight if he plays," Boudreau said. "But I expect him to be Jared Spurgeon."
