The Calgary Flames will face off against the Winnipeg Jets in a best-of-five Qualifying Round series beginning on Saturday night. The Flames enter the series as a very slight favourite among odds-makers, but there are a few reasons why the Jets could come out on top.
Hellebuyck gonna Hellebuyck
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is, in a word, good. Playing behind an injury-riddled team and a relatively weak blueline, he was superb most of the season and invincible for stretches. He may be the single most important player, on either side, in the whole series.
Simply put: if Hellebuyck can be a difference-maker in one or two games and stymie the Flames, that could effectively decide the entire series.