Jets the 'huge decided underdog' in NHL playoffs, says Maurice

The Winnipeg Jets talk about what they're expecting in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup, as they gear up for their first playoff game later this week against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Jets practised on Monday at the MTS Centre. The team will travel to Anaheim on Tuesday, in advance of their game Thursday against the Ducks at Honda Center.

• Jets fans fly south for playoff game against Ducks
• NHL's Stanley Cup playoff matchups set
• More Winnipeg Jets headlines at cbc.ca/manitoba

The Ducks lead the NHL's Western Conference, while the Jets enter the playoffs on the second wild card.

"We're a huge decided underdog in this series," head coach Paul Maurice told the CBC's Mitch Peacock after practice.

"They finished first, best team in the Western Conference … but we have some confidence in our game," he added.

"Even if you finish first, you'd want to come in as the underdog, wouldn't you?"

Click on the video player above to watch Maurice's news conference with reporters.

Our other video features post-practice remarks from goalie Ondrej Pavelec  — who was named the NHL's second star of the week — as well as forward Jim Slater and captain Andrew Ladd.

• Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec named NHL's 2nd star of the week

"It's going to be a new experience for me, for sure, but the game's still the same," Pavelec said of the playoffs.

"It would be a mistake, I think, if we change something. You know, it's going to be all-over intense, it's going to be [a] physical game, but we know we can play this game."

CBC Manitoba's Mitch Peacock and Brett Purdy will bring you full coverage from Anaheim starting on Wednesday.

So, do you think the Jets will win the first round? The CBC's Marjorie Dowhos posed that question to fans on Twitter on Monday afternoon. Here's what some of you told us: