Sitting home watching the National Hockey League playoffs, I can't help but wonder, what if the Winnipeg Jets made the postseason? Could the Jets have pulled off an opening-round upset, like the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings are on the verge of doing against the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks?
Granted, the Kings are not your typical No. 8 seed. With three more points in the regular season, Los Angeles is the Pacific division champions and No. 3 seed in the tournament. However, I am more than sure that the Jets would have made the first round interesting.
Obviously, if the Jets made the postseason, they wouldn't be facing the Canucks. They would have made it as the Southeast division champions (and No. 3 seed) or the eighth and final seed in the East. That means a first round date either with the top-seeded Rangers or No. 6 New Jersey Devils. I know, the Jets were 0-4 against the Rangers and 1-2-1 against the Devils, but the games at the MTSC would have been a blast.
Had the Jets made the playoffs, Winnipeg this week would have hosted its first playoff game since 1996. I can see it in my mind, a sea of white washing over the MTS Centre and the crowd in full throat. Just imagine the scene, Ondrej Pavelec kicking out a shot from Zach Parise, or Evander Kane barrelling down the wing and beating Henrik Lundqvist top shelf. Hear the crowd sing-songing, "Hen-riiiiik! Henriiiiik!"
Keep dreaming, you say?
As the Aerosmith song goes, "Dream until your dreams comes true."
Adam Martini is a freelance sportswriter and supporter of all Winnipeg sports teams. He no longer dreads Winnipeg winters now that the Jets have returned to town. Follow Adam and the Jets on Twitter @PegCitySports.
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