NASHVILLE -- Analysis will show how the Nashville Predators outshot, outchanced and outplayed the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round on Friday.
But in its 4-1 win, Winnipeg's trump card mattered more.
Connor Hellebuyck set a franchise playoff record with 47 saves, and the Jets struck first in the best-of-7 series that continues with Game 2 here Sunday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS).
Hellebuyck broke the record of 37, set by Johan Hedberg with the Atlanta Thrashers in Game 2 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the New York Rangers, and matched by Ondrej Pavelec with the Jets in Game 2 of the 2015 Western Conference First Round against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Jets were winners despite being outshot 48-19. Nashville more than doubled Winnipeg in shot attempts, 87-39.
Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said Game 1 was simply the way Hellebuyck has been all season (44-11-9, 2.36 goals-against average, .924 save percentage), when he set the NHL record for most wins by a United States-born goalie.
"His rebound control was excellent," Morrissey said. "He's been playing like that all year; nothing fazes him. He's just able to replicate that night after night so I think we have a little bit better to give in front of him, but he was outstanding."
Coach Paul Maurice said there was no question a better game will be required from the Jets in this series, but the Game 1 statistics didn't trouble him.
"We have to work a little harder," Maurice said. "I don't feel as overwhelmed as the stats should tell me I should. I'm usually pretty honest about that, I'm not trying to protect the group. It's their building, they had the jump early. They put an awful lot of pucks to the net from all over the ice. We can handle the net-front scrums a little bit better. I'm not worried about those stats."
Maurice said he didn't consider the game stolen by Hellebuyck.
"They put a lot of pucks to the net," he said. "But there certainly weren't a lot of odd-man rushes or things like that of the real high-risk nature. We weren't at our best, I'll give you that. We can play better and I think we will as this series goes on.
"But we pay our goaltender, too."
His goaltender, a Vezina Trophy finalist this season, was staked to a 1-0 lead thanks to a rebound goal by Brandon Tanev at 14:51 of the first period, when the Predators outshot the Jets 20-4.
Winnipeg had a 2-0 lead 9:01 into the second period on Paul Stastny's rebound goal. The shots at that point were 31-9.
Hellebuyck had one key second-chance save, on forward Miikka Salomaki at 16:17 of the third period, but even though the workload was high, the difficulty didn't match.
"We were playing right in our own end," Hellebuyck said. "I thought the guys were keeping them outside and allowing me to see shots. It goes a long way."
The Jets were the first team to be outshot by 29 shots or more and win a Stanley Cup Playoff game since the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of the 2016 Eastern Conference First Round (44-11).
Winnipeg forward Mark Scheifele, who scored two goals, the second into an empty net with 36 seconds remaining in the third period to make it 4-1, also said he didn't consider the game stolen.
"There's no steals in playoffs," said Scheifele, who has six goals in six games this postseason. "If you win, you win. It wasn't pretty. It probably wasn't how we drew it up. But we got the win and that's the main focus.
"We knew they were going to come out hot ... they were going to have possession and [be] roaming around our [offensive] zone. But we did a good job of keeping them to the perimeter and [Hellebuyck] made a lot of big saves for us."
Kevin Fiala had Nashville's only goal 1:23 into the third period, ending Hellebuyck's playoff shutout streak at 163:00, dating to the second period of Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round against the Minnesota Wild.
Fiala's goal was the first allowed by the Jets in 183:00.
Jets captain Blake Wheeler said adjustments will be made for Game 2.
"We'll watch the tape," he said. "We can play better than that. We know that. We'll try to make some of those adjustments tomorrow and get a good night's rest tonight. Not every win is going to be exactly how you want it. We're happy to get the win and just look to improve every game."
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