Streaking Winnipeg Jets feeling good about themselves entering playoff series with Colorado

Sean Monahan was walking his dog when a car drove past him, braked, backed up and stopped.

A mother and her son hopped out and approached the Winnipeg Jets forward, who was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 2.

“She said, ‘We just wanted to say hi and wish you luck and we’re looking forward to watching the playoffs,”‘ Monahan recalled with a smile.

He and his goldendoodle, Winston, often meet friendly, passionate fans. It’s one of the reasons Monahan is looking forward to Winnipeg’s first-round NHL playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, which begins Sunday at Canada Life Centre.

The Jets (52-24-6) finished second in the Central Division and Western Conference, tying the franchise record for most wins in a season with the 2017-18 team. Their 110 points were the highest among Canadian clubs.

The finish earned Winnipeg home-ice advantage for the best-of-seven series with the division’s third-place Avalanche (50-25-7).

It’s the first time the teams will clash in the post-season. Both are trying to rebound from last year’s early playoff exits.

The Jets only grabbed the second conference wild-card spot in Game 81 last season and ended with a 46-33-3 record. They were bounced out of the playoffs in five games by the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Vegas Golden Knights.

After winning the 2022 Stanley Cup, the Avalanche claimed top spot in the division last season but were upset by the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of the opening round.

The Jets have rolled into this post-season on a high, finishing the regular season on an eight-game win streak. It included a 7-0 thumping of the Avalanche on April 13 that gave Winnipeg a sweep of their three-game season series.

Colorado was 4-4-2 in its final 10 contests.

WATCH | Scouting the Jets-Avs series with Sean Reynolds:

Jets head coach Rick Bowness feels a different vibe around his team these days.

“I think we’re much better prepared going into this playoffs than we were last year,” Bowness said. “We’re a better team this year than we were at this time last year. There’s no question. We’re a more-committed team.”