Also-ran Predators shut down Jets

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This article was published 27/02/2025 (196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NASHVILLE — The Winnipeg Jets left Nashville in a bit of a fog Thursday night, unsure of exactly what happened and nursing at least a few regrets — just like many visitors to this notorious party town.

It wasn’t just that their franchise-record 11-game winning streak came to a halt against one of the NHL’s worst teams this season. It was the very out-of-character way they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Predators.

Specifically, the league’s best power play has suddenly gone ice cold and flat-out cost them.

Winnipeg went 0-for-4 against Nashville, including a five-on-three advantage in the second period that lasted 1:54. It’s the fifth consecutive game the NHL’s No. 1 unit has been silenced, with them going 0-for-14 in that time. The Jets also came up empty on a two-minute five-on-three advantage in Wednesday’s 4-1 victory in Ottawa.

“A little bit of a funk, just not connecting, not firing all cylinders,” said defenceman Neal Pionk, who scored his team’s only goal which came at even strength.

“Special teams can be the difference in the game, and certainly was (Thursday).”

Indeed, especially since the game-winner came off the stick of Predators forward Tommy Novak late in the first period while Alex Iafallo sat in the penalty box for hooking.

“We give up the one and then don’t score. That’s the difference,” said Pionk.

The Jets generated 64 shot attempts, but only 24 of them ended up on net where Juuse Saros was razor-sharp. The other 40 were either blocked or went wide.

“They’ve always been a pretty good shot-blocking team,” said Jets forward Kyle Connor, who led the way with seven shots on goal and 16 attempts.

“We tried to get some shots from the point and we didn’t seem to find it. Their goalie is playing well over there, too. Maybe you try to be a little extra accurate and pick a spot and it doesn’t happen. But obviously, no excuse. The chances were there. We could have easily had five or six (goals) in that game. It’s something that we have to work on and bear down.”

Jets backup goalie Eric Comrie, who entered the night on a personal three-game winning streak, took the hard-luck loss despite making 28 saves.

“Our back-to-backs haven’t been great this year and he’s unfortunately had to play every single one of them,” said Connor. “You feel for the guy but he gives us a chance every single night. He’s been like that all year. Not happy that we couldn’t get the win for him but he played strong and showed that he’s more than capable of handling his own in there.”

Winnipeg falls to 42-15-3 after suffering its first defeat in an incredible 38 days. Nashville improves to 21-30-7.

“We’ve had a few of these runs this year, I think three real good ones,” said head coach Scott Arniel. “Just re-set and get going. We don’t dwell too much on this game.”

ABOUT THAT POWER PLAY

To be clear, nobody is hitting the panic button and the Jets felt they were a little bit crisper with the puck movement and player rotation despite the same result.

“It’s what happens. You go through situations over the course of the season. You just kind of stick with it,” said Arniel.

“There are some things we’ll work on or just look at a little bit more but, at the end of the day, I liked it a lot. A lot better than what I saw (Wednesday) night. So there was a big, vast improvement in how we were moving it.”

Connor, who leads the Jets with 72 points and is second on the team with 31 goals, believes a little more practice should help the cause. The Jets, like all other NHL teams, had a lengthy break for the 4 Nations Face-Off and have had very little time together to work on it since.

Connor also was taking a glass half-full approach.

“We did everything but score,” he said.

“I liked our pace, we had an attack mindset. We were shooting pucks, getting to the net. More times than not, we got the recovery off of that. When you’re crashing down and all arriving at the same time at the net. We mixed up our looks. I thought we threw some good chances at him and we’ve just got to dial it in a little bit more and we’ve just got to bury on those.”

ICE BAGS, PLEASE

The Jets got a taste of playoff hockey on this quick two-game road trip — not so much in who they played, but in the style of game. Both Ottawa (29 hits) and Nashville (25 hits) were extremely physical, which Arniel said was likely by design.

“That’s part of what this time of year is. We’re always going to get the other team’s best,” he said.

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey was on the receiving end of a huge one thrown by Nashville’s Michael McCarron but managed to escape any damage. Nikolaj Ehlers also had a close call late in the second period when he appeared to take a stick to the throat area during a net-front battle.

The Jets tried to dish it out as well, throwing 24 checks on Thursday after 19 against Ottawa.

There likely were plenty of ice bags required for the charter flight home.

KEY PLAY

Failing to score on the lengthy five-on-three advantage in the second period allowed Nashville to keep the lead.

THREE STARS

1. Nashville G Juuse Saros: 23 saves

2. Winnipeg G Eric Comrie: 28 saves

3. Nashville C Tommy Novak: Game-winning goal.

TRADE TARGETS

Nashville is one of the teams to watch between now and next Friday’s trade deadline, with general manager (and Dauphin native) Barry Trotz possibly looking to shake up the mix of his under-achieving club. There are a few potential players who might just check off some of the boxes that would be on Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s list.

Among them: Centre Ryan O’Reilly, who won the faceoff which led directly to Filip Forsberg’s game-opening goal. O’Reilly would seem to be a perfect fit for the Jets, but the biggest obstacle could be Nashville’s reluctance to move him. The 34-year-old is signed for two more years at a very reasonable US$4.5 million.

Pending UFA Gustav Nyquist could be another target. He’s only one year removed from a 23 goal, 75-point season but has struggled mightily this year with just nine goals and 20 points in 57 games.

Forward Colton Sissons (one more year at US$2.8 million) and defenceman Luke Schenn (one more year at US$2.75 million) would bring some size and snark and the ability to kill penalties (and, in Sissons case, win some faceoffs) and are also seeing their names in the rumour mill lately.

The Jets and Predators do have a recent deadline-day history, with Winnipeg acquiring Nino Niederreiter in exchange for a second-round pick back in 2023.

EXTRA, EXTRA

The Jets made one lineup change as defenceman Haydn Fleury took the spot of Colin Miller on the third pairing. The other healthy scratches were blue-liner Ville Heinola and forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who took the pre-game warmup but wasn’t required. Winger Morgan Barron remains on injured reserve but could be an option to return any day now.

Nashville was without defenceman Roman Josi, who was hurt Tuesday night after taking a hit from behind from Florida’s Sam Bennett. The full extent of his injury and potential length of absence hasn’t been revealed by the Predators.

The Jets flew home after the game and will get ready to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night — the only team in the league they have yet to see at least once this season. After that it’s back on the road for four more.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg