Both teams made additions prior to Monday's trade deadline, loading up for what seems like an inevitable second-round playoff meeting between the Central Division powerhouses.
Which club has the advantage? Here's how it breaks down position by position:
The Jets made a huge splash Monday by acquiring center Stastny from the St. Louis Blues, arguably giving Winnipeg the NHL's best top nine.
Winnipeg has already scored 206 goals through 62 games - fourth-most in the NHL. As we'll see below, that's come with minimal aid from the blue line, and the addition of Stastny will only help them get the puck to the opposition's net with greater regularity.
Stastny to Jets. Winnipeg is one of the best teams in the league moving pucks into the middle of the ice - Stastny excels in that area - precision passer. Jets now have 5 forwards in the top 60 in pass to slot completion %; Stastny is top 30. Easy to argue now best top 9 in NHL.
Nashville addressed an area of weakness from last year's roster by adding depth down the middle in the form of Turris and Bonino, and Fisher is back in the mix as added insurance.
Hartman was brought in via Chicago on deadline day for added scoring, with the Predators having recorded a ninth-ranked 191 goals through 61 games, but with a good chunk coming from the defense.
The highly touted prospect Tolvanen may be an X-factor if he signs his entry-level deal for the balance of the season, but, as it stands, the Jets are stronger up front.
Defense
Jets
Predators
Dustin Byfuglien
Roman Josi
Jacob Trouba
P.K. Subban
Tyler Myers
Mattias Ekholm
Josh Morrissey
Ryan Ellis
Toby Enstrom
Alexei Emelin
Dmitry Kulikov
Matt Irwin
Ben Chiarot
Yannick Weber
Nashville's defense corps is widely regarded as the best around the NHL, and for good reason.
The Predators are allowing a league-low 2.46 goals per game this season, and everyone but Emelin and Weber boasts a positive Corsi rating at even strength, indicating good puck movement and an ability to keep it away from Rinne.
The Jets, however, aren't far behind. Winnipeg is allowing only 2.61 goals per game (fifth-lowest), as well as one shot per game less than Nashville (31.4 as compared to 32.4).
On top of that, their top six all boast positive Corsi ratings at even strength, and seventh man Chiarot is almost level.
Offensively, however, Nashville gets a big boost thanks to 15 goals from Subban and 10 from Josi. Here are the respective contributions from each team:
Altogether, based on excellence at both ends of the ice, Nashville gets the edge on defense.
Goaltending
Jets
Predators
Connor Hellebuyck
Pekka Rinne
Michael Hutchinson
Juuse Saros
Rinne played some of the best hockey of his life in backstopping the Predators to the Stanley Cup Final last year, posting a .930 save percentage over 22 games. So far this season, he hasn't tailed off, with a 32-9-4 record and .929 save percentage.
Hellebuyck has an almost identical record (32-9-8) with a slightly lower save percentage (.924), and while he's living up to the billing of one of the game's best young goalies, he brings zero NHL postseason experience to the table.
The Jets may have the better long-term option, but based on the current levels of play, Rinne's run a year ago, and the defense immediately in front of him, the edge in net right now goes to Nashville.
Conclusion
Winnipeg's forward group is as deep and talented as it gets, but Nashville gets the edge on defense and in net, thereby setting the Predators up for the best chance of representing the West once again in the final.
The Jets deserve a lot of credit. They do have a young goalie they're confident in, but they know Nashville has the best defense, so coming out of nowhere and acquiring Stastny is a move they needed to make, especially after missing out on Derick Brassard.
If these teams do indeed meet in the playoffs, bank on the series going the distance.
Chicago is also sending a fifth-round 2018 pick to Nashville, and is receiving a 2018 first-round pick, a 2018 fourth-round pick, and forward Victor Ejdsell.
Hartman, 23, is in his second full NHL season after being drafted 30th overall in 2013. He recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 76 appearances as a rookie in 2016-17, but has managed only eight goals and 17 assists in 57 games this season.
He's set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
The Predators no longer own a first- or second-round pick in this year's draft, while the Blackhawks are now well stocked to fill the pipeline:
The club has signed the former captain to a one-year, $1-million contract for the balance of the 2017-18 season, general manager David Poile announced Monday.
Fisher declared his intent to come out of retirement for the stretch run back on Jan. 31, and rejoins a team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final a year ago.
In 72 games last season, Fisher recorded 18 goals and 24 assists, but contributed only four assists in 20 playoff games.
Cole was recently acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Derick Brassard deal and did not suit up for the Senators, who apparently planned to flip him.
#CBJ D Ian Cole: “I’m excited by this. It’s been an interesting few days, but I’m happy - really happy - to be heading to Columbus.” Cole was told by Senators to remain in Pittsburgh after trade last week. They knew they were flipping him all along.
In Moutrey, Ottawa gets a 22-year-old forward who was drafted 105th overall (fourth round) in 2013. He has three goals and three assists in 22 games for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters this season, and will be assigned to the Senators' minor-league affiliate in Belleville.
Cole is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Washington, however, continues to explore adding to the blue line even after acquiring Michal Kempny and Jakub Jerabek.
McDonagh is an intriguing trade candidate as he's not considered a rental player. He has one full season remaining on a contract that carries a cap hit of $4.7 million.
Tomas Plekanec will not be in the lineup for Saturday's game against Tampa Bay, the team announced.
The decision comes with the trade deadline set for Monday, and amid reports the veteran center is attracting suitors after Derick Brassard was dealt by the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
Plekanec is in the final season of a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $6 million. In 60 games this term, he's chipped in six goals and 18 assists.
The 35-year-old has spent the entirety of his NHL career with the Canadiens, recording 232 goals and 373 assists in 981 regular-season games since being selected 71st overall in 2001.
In the first running of theScore's NHL Rookie Power Rankings, editor Ian McLaren orders the top first-year players from around the league this season - with extra consideration given to their performances this month.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made a bit of a gamble in trading Jonathan Drouin to Montreal for this young, highly-touted yet unproven defenserman, but Sergachev has fit right in, and sits within the top-25 in scoring among all players at his position.
He does rank sixth on the Lightning in terms of average ice time on the blue line, but his production in limited minutes suggests even bigger things to come.
The Boston Bruins are exceeding expectations this season based in part on the contributions of several youngsters, with Heinen fitting in well on the third line.
He isn't the flashiest rookie, and maybe not even the most talented first-year forward on his team (honorable mention to Jake DeBrusk), but Heinen knows his role, plays it well, and his contributions are proving to be a boon for the Bruins.
Connor's addition to the Jets top six gives Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice an abundance of offensive threats.
The 21-year-old does not look out of place on the top line with Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, and recently earned praise from the captain.
"I really liked Kyle Connor tonight. He was all over the puck and it makes a really big difference for our line when he's skating like that." Blake Wheeler on fresh lines and an old running mate.
The first overall pick from the 2017 draft has been an important contributor for the upstart New Jersey Devils.
With a goal Sunday against Carolina, he extended his point streak to five games, wherein he's recorded four goals and four assists.
He's doing this while assuming first-line center duties, having gained the trust of head coach John Hynes at both ends of the ice, which is no small feat for a rookie.
Keller has slowed down a bit following a howling start with the Arizona Coyotes, but the fact he's excelling offensively on a team that remains in the NHL's basement is a testament to how good a player he is.
If and when the Coyotes ever make good on years of building, the seventh pick from the 2016 draft is sure to be right at the center of it.
Perhaps the most surprising name on this list is Gourde, who continues to defy expectations wherever he plays.
Undrafted at both the junior and pro levels, Gourde is putting up numbers for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the same way he did in the QMJHL and AHL: in bunches.
The depth scoring and defensive responsibility he brings is one of the many reasons why the Lightning are favored to win the Stanley Cup in 2018.
This stud defenseman is playing on the Bruins top pair alongside Zdeno Chara, and McAVoy is averaging around 22:30 per game, considerably more ice time than his peers.
McAvoy's proven to be a positive possession player with a strong game at both ends of the ice, and his plus-23 is sure to impress even the more traditional analysts.
Once he starts firing the puck with more regularity (61 shots in 52 games), he'll be an even greater forece to be reckoned with. As it stands, he should be a finalist in the rookie of the year voting.
Only eight players have scored more goals than Boeser, who recently earned All-Star Game MVP honors.
The Vancouver Canucks did very well to snag this marksman with the 23rd pick at the 2015 draft, and he's emerging not only as a massive piece in the rebuild, but as one of the most consistent scorers in the game.
In what we have seen is a strong rookie class, Barzal has established himself as the clear favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the best first-year player of 2017-18.
It's not just the amount of points he's piling up, but the dominant manner in which he's able to do it; the New York Islanders forward has recorded three five-point games, and it's become evident that these kinds of offensive outbursts are no fluke.
The trio of Matthews, Nylander, and Marner combined for 14 of Toronto's 40 shots on the night.
It's not the style head coach Mike Babcock prefers, but the Leafs' forward core can run with any other in the NHL, and will usually come out on top of those track meets.
2. Kapanen makes his case
Kasperi Kapanen also made a case for increased playing time by displaying blazing speed and patience beyond his years in recording his first career assist on Matthews' second goal.
The 21-year-old was a big piece acquired in the Phil Kessel trade, and had been good for four goals in 19 games with the big club over the past two seasons, along with a pair in six playoff appearances.
Interestingly, Kapanen saw 11:04 of ice time, 2:07 of which came on the penalty kill. His skill set certainly warrants time on the man advantage as well.
3. Torched by Ducks' top line
Having said all that, Toronto struggled to contain Anaheim's top line:
Corey Perry: four assists (tied a single-game career high).
"Three big bodies," explained defenseman Jake Gardiner, per TSN's Mark Masters. "Getzlaf's probably one of the smartest players in the league, just finds guys and makes the right play all the time, and then Rakell and Perry can both bury the puck so it's a pretty lethal combo."
It should also be noted that Frederik Andersen was forced to leave during the second period after taking Perry's skate to the head. He was not able to return, but Babcock's initial assessment was the goaltender seems good, pending further evaluation Tuesday.
