All things Winnipeg Jets hockey. Every week tune into Tim Bigelow and Warren Smith and guests discuss the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL.
Tim and Warren are ready for the series of all series of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs – Nashville vs. Winnipeg and have the epic podcast preview! Plus a recap of the 5 game first round series win over Minnesota. If you just listen to one First Class Podcast this year – this is the one!
A Country Music Guide to knowing the Nashville Predators – Helpful to those especially in non-traditional hockey markets.
By Tim Bigelow – FIRST CLASS PODCAST
Inspired by the On the Forecheck article The Winnipeg Jets Are An Insufferable (But Talented) Hockey Team – the First Class Podcast wanted to give our fans (and the newbie market Nashville fans) a guide to the Nashville Predators.
Winnipeg being a traditional hockey market that lost it’s original team and is happily enjoying are playoff run with our beloved Jets now returned know our hockey – it’s our passion. As the Preds are as non-traditional a hockey market – they really do compare better to new country than traditional – I think you’ll understand.
THE DIVA – P.K. Subban. Subban is actually the fourth best d-man on Nashville but he seems to get a lot of needed attention from the media. He is like the American Idol Carrie Underwood. Subban definitely has his hits like Carrie but sometimes it can be too much and get under the opposition’s skin and you need to tune it out or turn it off; especially his constant ballads to the officials of how he has been wronged. His anthem is “Before He Cheats” cause be warned at some point he will.
THE COUNTRY ROCKER – Pekka Rinne. Rinne is the rock at Bridgestone Arena and the Predators make no mistake – in order to bring down the house you have to beat Rinne in net. He’s as badass as Eric Church is to country music. His anthem is “Creepin’” as he plays the puck and controls his post in net. Get under his skin and lots of traffic and Pekka like Eric might let down his guard and let in some soft ones in the net/set.
THE OBSCURE TALENT – Phillip Forsberg. He’s the darling and the real game changer up front for Nashville. The local media keep wondering why he isn’t in the MVP conversation; like his highlight reel goals can’t get on Sports Center or something – kind of like hearing a Kacey Musgraves song on country radio? A handful to keep up with what he will do next but chances are it’ll be top shelf. His anthem is “Follow Your Arrow” and don’t be the guy following this guy for the puck – it’s dangerous to give him space and time and creative control.
THE FOREIGN CONTENT – Mattias Ekholm. This Swede is one of Nashville’s D-Men better than Subban. Strong and has a shot and definitely likes a hit. He plays like a North American like the way Aussie Keith Urban seems like he was born in Nashville too. When your good Nashville treats you like you’re a local. His anthem is “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and for real you’d think that was written by a Canadian but whose heard of Steven Lee Olsen? Just avoid Ekholm’s knack for making hits and you’ll be better for it.
ENTERTAINER OF THE PREDS – Roman Josi. This is the man on the defence for Nashville that always seems to find a way to put on the best show. Do you remember that 5 assist game he had vs the Jets? This guy is really the Norris level talent in Nashville – the skills to shake it like Luke Bryan for the whole game. His anthem is “Kick the Dust Up” cause when he does it is that kinda night your team doesn’t want to have. This is one showstopper you need to cancel booking before he puts on a lights-out show.
THE DIVA’S JOKER – Ryan Johansen. He’s funny and sometimes he can be costly to play against. He has some good offensive skills but it’s hit and miss – sometimes I guess there is some mud on the tires? His anthem is “Ticks” cause like Brad Paisley – his talent is there but he can quickly get under your skin like Subban pretty quick like he’s Camouflage – all Ryan’s bad jokes aside like this is the playoffs not the NHL/ACM awards.
THE COUNTRY POP STAR – Kyle Turris. He is streaky and can score and although acquired through a trade, he still has enough of Nashville’s style to fit in a little to nicely. Like the way Sam Hunt isn’t country but country enough. He’s been quiet but definitely a guy who can break out and hurt your chances of beating Nashville. His anthem is “House Party” but it’s better if he is left uninvited and left off the score sheet.
SMOOTH & RUGGED COUNTRY HITTER – Austin Watson. He has size and still has still and will play in the dirty area’s. Nashville likes this in the country music stars, like Blake Shelton, gets hits but still wants to keep to his roots. Watson plays hockey the same way, keeps it simple, and was a big factor vs. Colorado. His anthem is “Boys ‘Round Here” and your team has to bring a physical level and be the men among boys to win the battle. Wasn’t Shelton’s first hit Austin? Neither need more hits.
There’s more to Music City than country music and more to the Predators I’m sure but it’s a nice tourist attraction to visit for a Winnipeg Jet, to win some games, before a later flight and more important date in Las Vegas wouldn’t you agree? Now that’s a tourist attraction.
Tim and Warren take a in depth look at the first round playoff match up between the Jets and Wild. Also, look at the series in the Western Conference of the Stanley Cup playoffs and more.
Part two of the Winnipeg Jets regular season wrap up looks at the last game versus a playoff bound team in Toronto, finishing out the last road trip in Ottawa and Montreal and the Jets returning home to play Calgary and Chicago with another win streak and Hellebuyck’s record setting win.
Tim and Warren are back to wrap up the Winnipeg Jets regular season. Part one – Before getting back into the games – we talk about the bus tragedy with the Humboldt Broncos and why it matters. Back into the games we cover the last four of the home stand versus LA, Anaheim, Nashville, Boston and the first game of the final four game road trip in Chicago.
After a break; Tim and Warren are playing catch up on all things Winnipeg Jets. We sat down and picked up with last game of the 6 game road trip in Nashville and looked at the first game versus Chicago of the just ended home stand. More to come this week as the Jets punch a ticket to this season’s NHL playoffs!
Part two (above) continues with the Jets 6 game road trip focusing on the games in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Lots on injuries as the road trip continued and lots on goaltenders both for the Jets and against the Jets.
Tim and Warren return for the First Class Podcast. Part one this week looks at the Atlanta Thrasher/Winnipeg Jet records that continue to be broken by this year’s team. Coverage of the home game versus Detroit and the beginning of the 6 game road trip versus Carolina and the New York Rangers. Scheifele’s injury and the growing IR list for the Jets.
Part three of the podcast looks at the Jets last home game versus Nashville right after the trade deadline. While talking about who draws the most penalties in the league – Matthew Tkachuk leads to Warren bringing up Keith as well.
Part two of the March 1st, 2018 First Class Podcast looked at the trade deadline from a Winnipeg Jets perspective and also looked at what happened in the Central division next; the Western conference and the Eastern conference after that. Included was looking at how the playoffs were shaping up and potential playoff match ups. Also Tim & Warren talk about the Men’s Olympic hockey tournament in part two.
Tim Bigelow and Warren Smith return with the First Class Podcast. Part one looks at the “Ugly Suit” road trip games between the Jets in St. Louis and Dallas on back to back Central division match ups. Included in the episode the guys discuss Matt Hendricks after he was asked about his role by the media prior to trade deadline; a discourse of Bruins Patrice Bergeron MVP talk versus the Jets Blake Wheeler after comments made by Don Cherry on HNIC; and why the GM role in the Jets and Leafs rebuilds is the cornerstone to those playoff bound teams.
Tim Bigelow and Warren Smith talk about teams we liked between Jets 1.0 and Jets 2.0 – talk about the Boston Bruins, Senators, and Leafs and the Eastern Conference. Part one finishes off with the Jets game at home versus Colorado.
Watch as the weekend continues for parts two and three – that will include more trade deadline talk, Jets touchdown win over the Panthers, Michael Grabner and other NY Rangers and guys that would good in a Jets jersey – and Grabner surprise trade to New Jersey before we finish recording the podcast, so much more!
As the Jets continue the 10 game home stand, Tim Bigelow and Warren Smith are back to look at the St. Louis; New York Rangers; and Washington games and go over the latest Jets hot topics as we all gear up for Colorado’s visit tonight!
Time markers: 4:45.5 Tarasenko brings the Blues to Winnipeg; talk on the Connor’s – Helle and Kyle; and Jets power “outage” play of late. 24:18 The 3 Wheeler still in park – Wheels great with Laine and Scheifele but the 3 still can’t seem to gel 5 on 5? 29:29.5 Disallowed goals and the Rangers play like the camp has been put into fire sale mode. 43:50 More on the not so “special pp teams” but pk is surviving Lowry/Tanev out. Dustin Byfuglien and Charlie Huddy – too buddy buddy? 58:28 Jacob Truba is missed on back end and shuffling the lines up front. 1:15:54 “Game of the Year” vs Washington – slashing and dashing the Capitals gains for the W – next level Jets power up for a comeback win. 4 on 4 and 3 on 3 OT. 1:35:42.5 Jets depth and Chevy not making a deadline deal for duds. 1:46:35.5 Stay close to Nashville – home stand finishing up and divisional rival dates. 1:49:08 NHL point system. 3-2-1 makes more sense than rewarding losers currently does.
Current system: Colorado and Winnipeg head to head.
Colorado: 2 Wins; 1 Loss = 4 points
Winnipeg: 1 Win; O Loss ; 2OT Losses = 4 points
3-2-1 system head to head
Colorado 0 (Regulation Wins); 2 (OT Wins); 0 (OT Loss); 1 (Regulation Loss) = 4 points
Winnipeg 1 (Reg Wins); 0 (OT Wins); 2 (OT Losses); 0 (Reg Loss) = 5 points
Another First Class Podcast has arrived. This Wednesday Tim Bigelow and Warren Smith went over games two thru four of the current 10 game home stand and all things Winnipeg Jets hockey.
Podcast time markers:
2:59 Line Combination and affects of injuries 7:33 Hendricks; Lowry injuries related to line combinations 12:05 filling holes on the Penalty kill 16:38 The Quebec City Coyotes, maybe? 20:39 Goalie interference and odds going Vegas’ way 41:34.5 Nic Petan; trade rumors, the Rangers and trade deadline – why not – not make a move 54:23 Colorado minus MacKinnon – the play of Ben Chiarot 1:05:04 Arizona’s ship has sunk but they still gave it all they had 1:22:21 Game up coming with St. Louis and more on the home stand ahead 1:24:34.5 Laine’s Players Tribune piece
First Class Podcast 