With 2018 in the Rearview Mirror, 2023 Jets Ready for Vegas

Sure, that was five full years and one global pandemic ago, but the memories still remain for players and fans alike - both the good and bad.

“Yeah, it’ll be interesting," forward Mark Scheifele said of once again matching up with Vegas. "Obviously, not playing them for a while is — their team’s changed, our team’s changed, so it’ll be exciting to play against them. Obviously, they’re a fantastic hockey team and we’ve got to be ready for everything. We’ve just got to play our game and do what we do best.”

For the most part, the players have moved on.

"It’s two different coaches on both sides, a lot of different players, and it’s five years removed, so there’s some same players but there’s also a lot of changeover," defenceman Josh Morrissey said. "I don’t really think there’s much to do with five years ago."

Morrissey, who scored the final goal of the series for Winnipeg back in Game 5 - a 2-1, series-ending loss - is not looking back, but forward, as he knows the Jets need to continue operating at the pace they finished the 2022-23 regular season.

"We’re trying to ride that momentum," he said. "I think we got back to playing the style of hockey that we played early in the year and through the first 40-50 games when we were near the top of the West. So we’re going to try to use that as some momentum and, more importantly, I think our game is in the right place heading into the playoffs."

Much like that of Morrissey, a clean-shaven Adam Lowry also reflected back upon 2018, but knows 2023 will have a significantly different feel.

“I think it’s more the lessons as opposed to any carry-over," Lowry said of his memories from Western Conference Final. "They’ve got a lot of new faces on that team. And have gone through playoff series since then. I don’t think there’s any lingering feelings from that one. Obviously, you hope to make it as far as you can in the playoffs, so that’s enough motivation.”

As a matter of fact, only five players from the 2018 Golden Knights are currently rostered by Vegas, while only seven Winnipeg Jets remain from that series. The wildcard? Nate Schmidt, who suited up for Vegas in that fateful 2018 series. 

"I don't think you can really ever take that away," Schmidt said of his playoff run with the Golden Knights. "When you see guys, still. When you run into David Perron or when you see the guys around. Even if you were there for a year. It's something, like you said, that's a pretty cool experience."

Perron has been with two different clubs since that postseason, while Schmidt is also on his second team. But those memories of the Winnipeg Whiteout do still live on for the veteran defenceman.

“Vegas is a heck of an atmosphere, right?" he said. "But stepping here the first time, you didn’t really realize what you were getting yourself into, hence the first period of the way it looked in Game 1. I think that it’s such an important part of what it means to play here and when it comes to playoff hockey, why it’s revered around the league as somewhere that’s nuts. And that’s what we want. I want that. You want it to be crazy. You want it to be pandemonium outside."

Heading to Nevada for Games 1 and 2, set to be played on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, the Jets will look for at least a two-game split, or better, before returning home for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday afternoon and Monday night. 

“Let’s keep that record clean," Schmidt said of his personal postseason series between the two clubs. "I love that. I think with this group, we were going to have to face this team sometime anyways, might as well do it now, get it going early.”

Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 PM central time on Tuesday, and 9:00 PM on Thursday. Both games can be viewed live on Sportsnet.