At the commencement of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Winnipeg Jets held a unique distinction: they were the only team capable of clinching the championship without securing a single road win.
However, this particular advantage, earned by finishing atop the regular-season standings, was lost immediately when the Jets dropped their second-round series opener 3-2 to the Dallas Stars while playing at home in Winnipeg.
In the first round, the Jets` performance in their three away games against the St. Louis Blues was notably poor, resulting in three consecutive, significant losses in Missouri. Despite these road defeats, they still managed to win the series by sweeping all four games played in Manitoba.
To reach their first Western Conference Final since 2018 and potentially claim the franchise`s inaugural Stanley Cup, the Jets face the critical task of winning in Dallas. They currently trail the Stars 2-1 as they head into Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday night.
Given that the Jets were the top team during the regular season and possessed the NHL`s third-best road record, it seems reasonable to assume they can manage to win at least one playoff game away from home, doesn`t it?
Yet, the reality is that the Jets have not celebrated a playoff victory away from their home ice since Game 1 of their only other playoff series two years prior, against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Tristan Blackwood