The Winnipeg Jets beat the Nashville Predators 5-1 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night to reach the conference finals for the first time in franchise history. What’s wilder is that they will be playing the Vegas Golden Knights in the conference finals — a matchup very few envisioned.
Remember that the Jets are the former Atlanta Thrashers, which moved to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season. As a franchise, this is only their third time in the postseason. The pairing of the unlikely newcomers in the Western Conference finals led to some interesting reactions on Twitter.
Take a look:
Vegas vs Winnipeg, ah yes, a battle between two of the NHL’s Original 31 teams, classic
— DL (@davelozo) May 11, 2018
The Winnipeg Jets are the first Eastern Conference team to make the Western Conference Final.
— Steve Dangle Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) May 11, 2018
Awesome to see Winnipeg advancing. Too bad for the Predators, who will undoubtedly celebrate this accomplishment with another banner, touting themselves in some fashion.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) May 11, 2018
the Winnipeg Jets may be the best ever sports team from Atlanta
— they’re still the Atlanta Thrashers (@AnthraxJones) May 11, 2018
Hard to believe, but in the 100-year history of the NHL, Winnipeg and Vegas have never met in a conference final before.
— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) May 11, 2018
Just like everyone predicted: Vegas vs. Winnipeg in the conference final.
— Bartley Kives (@bkives) May 11, 2018
With Winnipeg headed to its first conference finals…
The longest city drought without a conference finals appearance…
Columbus (never)
Cincinnati (1995)— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) May 11, 2018
Either Winnipeg will advance to their first Stanley Cup Final ever or Vegas will in their inaugural season. This will be a year of firsts either way.
