Some of it stems from rule changes and tweaks made before the season to increase scoring. The result has been more emphasis on offense and that has carried into these Stanley Cup playoffs as seven of the eight advancing teams averaged at least 3.2 goals per game during the first round.

Las Vegas was the only opening-round winner that averaged fewer than 3.2 goals per game during their defensive-minded first-round series against the Kings. But the Golden Knights just put up seven goals Thursday night in their first game against the Sharks to start the second round of the playoffs.

So I'm surprised this opening Jets-Predators series total wasn't lined at 6.

Maybe it will be a 3-2 game. Both goalies, Connor Hellebuyck and Pekka Rinne, are playing well. I just think there's a much greater chance that more than five goals will be scored given the aggressive makeup of these two teams and their strong offenses.

Winnipeg scored the second-most goals in the NHL. The Jets have scored three or more goals in 12 of their last 17 games.

The Predators ranked seventh in scoring. They have scored three or more goals in 10 of their last 12 games.

Neither team is going to change their style. It's going to be speed not dumping the puck. The scores of the five regular-season games between the Jets and Predators were 5-4 in a shootout, 3-1, 6-5, 6-4 and 5-3. That's an average of seven goals per game.