The consensus entering the second-round series between Central Division rivals Winnipeg and Nashville was that it had the potential to be wildly entertaining. The two best regular season teams in point total,considered two of the best teams in the NHL, played five incredibly tight games before the postseason, setting the stage for what could have been one of the highlights of the Stanley Cup playoffs., and perhaps unfortunately, the series will have to come to an endThursday night when they play a Game 7 at Bridgestone Arena (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC).MORE:How slim has the margin for error been in this series? This tweet sums it up pretty well:How close is this Winnipeg-Nashville series?ES Louis Williams Jersey shot attempts: 338-338ES shots: 177-177ES goals: 12-11 ES high-danger chances: 66-65 (Source: ) Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) "Most people wanted this, and most people would probably have predicted that it would go six or seven games and would be back and forth," Paul Stastny said.(In fact, who predicted this series had it going at least six games.)"At the end of the day, this series has been about as evenly matched as it can be," Predators head coach Peter Laviolettesaid. "It's really going to come down to the play on the ice."During their run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, the Predators did not play in a single Game 7;the furthest they were pushed in a series was six games. That happened three times, beginning in the second round against theBlues and ending in the Cup Final lo s to the Penguins. Nashville played in one elimination game in that playoff run, and it ended their quest for the Cup. They did just stave off an early playoff exit in Game 6, on the road against Chris Paul Jersey the Jets, .For two teams thatalso couldn't stop scoring against each other in the regular season four of the five regular season games featured at least a combined eight goals this playoff series has turned into a defensive battle at times. In Game 1, Winnipeg got a huge effort from Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 47 shots, in a 4-1 Jets victory.The teams exploded offensively in Game 2, a 5-4 Predators victory in double-overtime, and in Game 3, a 7-4 Jets win, but Nashville clamped down for a 2-1 win in Game 4. The Jets limited the Predators to two goals in a 6-2 Game 5 victory, before Pekka Rinne and Co. shut out Winnipeg in Game 6."I would say Game 2 would be the game I would've thought all six would look like," Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. "For you to write a story on the series, you would have to write six different stories."But it's the seventh story that will decide who moves on to the Western Conference finals, with theGolden Knights awaiting the winner.This series has also been determined of late by the top forwards on the respective teams. The Jets are 3-1 in this series, and 6-1 in the playoffs when Mark Scheifele records at least a point. Conversely, the Predators are 3-1 in this series and 6-2 in the playoffs when Filip Forsberg records a point.GoaltendingThe Jets have gotten the better of the goaltending Patrick Beverley Jersey matchup between two VezinaTrophy finalists thus far. Hellebuyck, a playoff rookie, has stopped 199 of the 216 shots he's faced in this series, good for a .921 save percentage, actually down from the .924 he posted in Round 1."(I prepare) the same way as every other game," Hellebuyck said."We've gotten here for a reason. We've played our game, and we've been succe sful with our game, and we can't change that now."For the first time all series, the teams will have an extra day off between games, thanks to a Justin Timberlake concert at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday night. Hellebuyck said he's not nervous it will throw him off his routine, though."For me personally, it's just an extra day of rest," he said. "It's a weapon, and I plan on using it." Weve gotten here for a reason. Weve played our game and weve been succe sful with our game, and we cant change that now. Weve got to keep doing the same things and its all on the line. Weve got to bring it. - Connor Hellebuyck Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) While this is his first experience with the Stanley Cup playoffs, Hellebuyck has had a flare for turning in big performances in important games.As a collegiate atUMa s-Lowell, Hellebuyck led the River Hawks to consecutive Avery Bradley Jersey conference championships, earning tournament MVP in each run. The semifinal and final of that tournament is played at TD Garden. In his four games in that building for that tournament, Hellebuyck allowed one goal, stopping 135 of 136 shots, a .993 save percentage including shutouts in each championship game.Rinne stopped all 34 shots he faced in Game 6 to keep the Predators postseason alive, but it's been an up-and-down playoffs for him. He was beaten six times in Game 5 on 26 shots, before being pulled in favor of Juuse Sarros. Rinne has two shutouts in 12 games during this playoff run, but has also allowed four or more goals in five of those other 10 games.Injury reportIn terms of the lineups, the big question mark is on the Nashville bench, where fourth-line center Mike Fisher's status is very much unknown. Fisher played five shifts in the first period of Game 6 totaling 2:58 before leaving with an undisclosed injury.Well sift through everything where our guys are at, and if we need to come out with something we will," Laviolette said. Translation: Fisher is a game-time decision, Jerome Robinson Jersey probably with a much more significant injury than what's being let on, and his status will be revealed during pregame warmups.If Fisher can't go, the Predators could go back to Miikka Salomaki, who was scratched in Game 6 in favor of Scott Hartnell. Salomaki has played in eight of the 12 games for Nashville in these playoffs, including four of six against Winnipeg.On the Jets side of things, with Mathieu Perreault back in the lineup, it's likely Winnipeg will go with the same 18 skaters. Bryan Little was questionable for Game 6 with an undisclosed ailment, but ended up remaining in the lineup.Jets' projected lineup:Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Blake WheelerNikolaj Ehlers - Paul Stastny - Patrik LaineMathieu Perreault - Bryan Little - Joel ArmiaBrandon Tanev - Adam Lowry - Andrew CoppJosh Morri sey - Jacob TroubaToby Enstrom - Dustin ByfuglienBen Chiarot - Tyler MyersConnor HellebuyckPredators' projected lineup:Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvid sonKevin Fiala - Kyle Turris - Craig SmithColton Si sons - Nick Bonino - Austin WatsonScott Hartnell - Miika Salomaki/Mike Fisher - Calle JarnkrokRoman Josi - Ryan EllisMattias Ekholm - P.K. SubbanMatt Irwin - Yannick WeberPekka Rinne