Jets and Wild coaches prepare for chess match as playoff puck drop looms

They were fired within hours of each other by the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. They've coached against each other in the American Hockey League and NHL.

Now, Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice and Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreauare engaged in another chess match as their teams face off against each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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"He knows me as well as I know him.I think I know the way he changes lines and what he does there, and I'm sure he knows my tendencies as well, as far as the coaching aspects goes,"Boudreautold reporters Wednesday at BellMTSPlace as both clubs prepared for Game 1 of their opening-round series (Sportsnet, 6 p.m. CT).

"If I'm not on the ball, he'll take advantage of us."

Maurice said everyBoudreau-coachedteam he's ever faced has played a quick game and he's expecting a very straightforward approach from the Wild Wednesday night, especially because Minnesota will be playing without injureddefencemanRyanSuter.

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"They do a nice job of playing a simple game. You're going to see that," said Maurice, adding he expects the same from his own club in the playoffs.

"The game actually gets quite a bit simpler. It gets back to just doing the basics really well," Maurice said, noting eight or nine Jets have yet to play a single playoff game.

"The intensity on every movement increases on the ice, but the game itselfis probably played in a more simple fashion."

Watch Jets players talk about their excitement:

Jets ready for game 1

7 years ago

Duration 1:56

The Jets and the Minnesota Wild's first-round series begins Wednesday night.

WingerPatrikLaineis one of the Jets who have yet to see anNHLplayoff game.

"I've played in big games before,so I kind of know how to play, but it's still not going to help me, even though I played in the world juniors' final," he said.

Team captain Blake Wheeler said he's looking forward to starting the series infront of a hometown crowd, especially against Winnipeg's closest geographic neighbour in the league.

"Proximity-wise, it's great to have these sort ofmatchupsturn into rivalries in the playoffs.It's really where the bad blood begins. It's going to bea goodmatchup," he said.

Boudreau said he's well aware the Jets are favoured in the series, by virtue of their regular-season record.

"Well, you'd have to blind not to see it, especially on Canadian TV, everywhere," the Minnesota coach said.

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"I'm sure we know where Winnipeg stands and rightfully so they won nine of out of 10 [at theendof the regular season]. They were secondoverallin the league. I can see why teams are picking them all," he said.

"We're here. We're playing the game. We're glad we're invited to play, you know. We'll give it our best shot."

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