Vegas is officially back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing last time for the first time since entering the league. The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division. Winnipeg also missed the post season in 2022 after qualifying for four straight seasons. The Jets hold down the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. To get a sense of each team's strengths and weaknesses, let's take a closer look at their respective statistics and compare them head-to-head.
Here's a tale of the tape for the upcoming series:
Vegas won the season series 0-3, but two out of three games were decided by one goal, but the two teams haven’t met since December and things have changed since then. Winnipeg ranks as the sixth best team in even strength expected goals percentage since the start of 2023 and probably should’ve had an easier time making the playoffs. Vegas ranks 16th in that category, and they should’ve had a more difficult time winning the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights look like the superior offensive team, but the Jets have generated as many expected goals at even strength and both teams have middling power plays. Winnipeg might also be better than the Vegas defensively, and not just in goals against. The Jets do a better job suppressing shots than the Golden Knights, and they’re better at killing penalties.
Who will start in goal for Vegas?
It would be an understatement to say that goaltender Laurent Brossoit has carried the load while Logan Thompson and Adin Hill have been absent. Hill has been out since March 7th, while Thompson has been out since March 23rd, and the team almost certainly wouldn’t be sitting on top of their division had Brossoit not come in and stepped up. The 30-year-old third-string goaltender has gone 7-0-3 with a .927 save percentage, but if one of Hill or Thompson can go, it’s going to put head coach Bruce Cassidy in a tough spot. Thompson hasn’t resumed skating yet, though, and Hill just returned from a conditioning stint. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brossoit in the crease come Game 1, but I would imagine he’ll have a short leash as he has no playoff experience.