The NHL playoffs get underway Saturday with two games in a TNT doubleheader.
The No. 1 overall Winnipeg Jets will host the St. Louis Blues in the early game, followed by the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Dallas Stars in the second game.
The biggest question in the first game is the performance of Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. He’s headed for a second consecutive Vezina Trophy after a league-best 47 wins and 2.00 goals-against average, but he has only two victories in the last two postseasons. Last year, the Avalanche tagged him with a 5.23 GAA and an .864 save percentage.
The question in the second game is whether the Stars can overcome an 0-5-2 slide, especially with an injury to Jason Robertson. Coach Peter DeBoer is confident they can.
“Are we the team that kind of limped into the playoffs the last seven, eight games, or are we the team that for 75 games faced adversity with injuries to key guys for long stretches and found a way to grind out wins and have the record we have?” he asked.
Here’s how to watch the Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche on the opening night of the NHL playoffs:
Game 1 of the NHL playoff series between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues is at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 19.
Game 1 of the NHL playoff series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 19.
