Predators pounce on Jets with 3-goal opening frame, stellar Saros preserves lead
Netminder records 36 saves in 5-2 win; Winnipeg remains 4 points out of playoff spot
Ryan Johansen and Mikael Granlund each scored a goal and assisted on another to lead the Nashville Predators over the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 on Thursday night.
Eeli Tolvanen, Luke Kunin and Tanner Jeannot also scored for Nashville, which halted a four-game skid. Roman Josi had two assists and Juuse Saros made 36 saves.
"I thought we got off to a great start, got a good lead," Predators coach John Hynes said. "We got ourselves into some penalties in the second period, and then I thought in the third period, Winnipeg played real hard."
Tolvanen scored 4:43 into the opening period after he tipped Matt Benning's shot from the right point off the post. The rebound landed on his stick and he buried it into a wide-open net for his sixth goal of the season and first since Dec. 10.
Winnipeg challenged the goal, claiming play should have been stopped due to Tolvanen's initial deflection being played with a high stick. A video review confirmed the call on the ice.
WATCH | Predators pour on the goals early:
Granlund made it 2-0 at 11:49 of the first with a wrist shot from the right circle that deflected off Jets defenceman Neal Pionk, who had dropped to a knee in an attempt to block the shot.
Johansen concluded the first-period scoring for Nashville, squeezing a wrist shot between Hellebuyck's pads at 17:35.
"They had some urgency, they put pucks to the goal line, they did what we wanted to do," Jets interim coach Dave Lowry said. "They got off to a good start."
Dubois got Winnipeg on the scoreboard at 6:41 of the second.
"In the second period, we just took too many penalties, played a lot of minutes on the penalty kill," Josi said.
Kunin restored Nashville's three-goal lead at 12:22, but Scheifele's goal 25 seconds into the third drew the Jets back within two.
Jeannot added an empty-netter in the final minute.
"I really liked our third period," Scheifele said. "We got some more O-zone time, we got the puck deep, we did some simple things and got a lot of chances. Saros made some big saves. It's tough to get yourself out of a hole like that."
