5 things to watch for as Winnipeg Jets play Anaheim Ducks: Game 1

The wait is almost over for the Jets, the Ducks and fans everywhere. 

Thursday night the puck drops in Winnipeg's first Stanley Cup playoff series since 1996 and there are plenty of things to watch for, but here's five to get you started.

Possession Obsession

With apologies to Hall & Oates for borrowing the title of one of their songs, a movement in hockey statistics has opened eyes everywhere to the value of puck possession.

Everyone seems to be talking about how important keeping the puck is, which makes sense. It's tough to score when you don't have it, and you're likely struggling to defend when you're chasing it all the time.

Stats like five-on-five Corsi-for indicate the Jets tend to have the puck a lot, more than the Ducks when playing at full-and-even strength (52.7 per cent to 51.1 per cent). 

Simply put, having the puck more than the other guys is the major predictor of future success over the long haul and the Jets have the edge over their hosts.

If Paul Maurice's boys can use their speed and size to keep the puck, and to retrieve it quickly when they lose it, they've got a chance to limit Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and company.

Even Steven

An extension of the Jets' ability to have more than their share of the puck is the team's tendency to outscore its opponents while playing at even strength this season.

The numbers show the Jets as eighth in the NHL in the ratio of goals-for versus goals-against when playing five-on-five (1.15) while the Ducks were 15th at 1.04.

A track record like that is probably why the team has some confidence about this match up.

(Not So) Special Teams

Neither the Jets nor the Ducks excelled on special teams during the regular season. 

The Jets ended up 17th on the power play, while the Ducks landed at 28th place.

When it comes to playing shorthanded, Winnipeg developed enough of an approach to overcome their penalty problems to the tune of 13th best on the PK in the NHL. Anaheim was right in the middle of the pack at 15th best.

Despite so-so numbers, sometimes a team can get hot or find a match-up that works in its favour and that could separate the sides.

Anaheim scored five power play goals in the three-game season series against the Jets despite their overall struggles with the man advantage. in the end, the Ducks took that season series leaving the Jets 0-1-2.

For Winnipeg, a healthy Mathieu Perreault could add some needed spark to their power play attempts.

Duck Dynasty?

The Ducks have to get credit for their ability to find ways to win hockey games.

They've won 50+ each of the past two seasons, taken the pacific division three straight years and managed more points than anyone in the West each of the past two years. That's good!

And how do they do it? Just about anyway you can think of. 

Bruce Boudreau's team was a ridiculous 33-1-7 in one-goal games this season.

What about when playing with a lead? How about 30-0-2? That's right, 30 wins in 32 tries with a point in the other two games!

Down in the third period? That's no problem either.

The Ducks set an NHL mark with 18 wins when trailing in the third period over these last 82 matches.

There's no doubt they know how to win in the regular season.

Between The Ears

This could be about goaltending because it's a position that calls for some mental magic, and because goaltending is central to any team's hopes of winning.

So yes, the Jets will need the Ondrej Pavelec that went 9-2-and-1 down the stretch. And, Anaheim is looking for the Frederik Andersen who was steady in carrying a major load this season.

But, I'm just as curious to see how the Jets collectively react to the bigger stage. This is a team that's grown and been built to be deeper through trades but this is another level.

Can they play to their identity under the bright lights?

Just as much fun is watching to see if this ploy to call themselves the underdogs helps relax them and put the heat on the Ducks.

Lets face it: Anaheim is a team that's done all there is to do in the regular season. Now everyone is waiting to see if they can translate that into another Stanley Cup while "the twins" (Getzlaf and Perry) are still in their prime. 

Will the Ducks thrive, or take a dive?

Oh drop the puck already! this is going to be very interesting.