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NASHVILLE – The Winnipeg Jets continue their final road trip of the 2023-24 NHL regular season here against the Predators on Tuesday night.
The teams meet for the fourth and final time and there’s plenty on the line for both clubs, with the Jets riding a three-game winning streak and having a chance to move into a tie for second place in the Central Division.
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Not only do the Predators have a chance to clinch at least a wild-card spot, they could pull within four points of the Jets for third with a clean win.
After the Jets won the first game 6-3 back on Nov. 9, the Predators earned 3-2 and 4-2 victories to take a 2-1 series lead.
“The first time we played against them, I thought we had our way with them and the last two times, it’s been the opposite,” said Jets right-winger Mason Appleton. “In this barn, they really pride themselves on how they play here. The crowd gets into it, so we’ve got to manage the game, play a hard game. It’s going to be a playoff-type game.
“You don’t want to force anything. You’ve just got to play the right way, wear them down and do those things over and over and over. When we don’t play our style and press a little bit for offence that’s not there, we can kind of get caught sometimes and get exposed.”
The Predators lost 2-0 to the New York Islanders on Saturday, but rallied for a 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. They’re a bit removed from their run of 18 games securing at least a point (16-0-2) but excited about the prospects of the playoffs arriving after such an impressive run.
“We’re holding each other accountable and have a good feel of where our game is at,” said Predators defenceman Ryan McDonagh. “When we’re really playing well, we’re tough to play against and we can beat anybody. We’ve proven that over the course of the streak and in the second half of the year.
“Even when we’re a little off, we hold ourselves to a high standard here and can have honest conversations with each other and guys don’t take it to heart. They just realize that we’re trying to accomplish something bigger than just individual stuff. It’s been fun to see everybody buying in, no matter what role the coach is putting you in.”
It’s an elite goalie matchup in this one, featuring two workhorses, with Connor Hellebuyck making his 58th start of the season for the Jets and Juuse Saros making his league-leading 62nd start for the Predators.
The Jets are not making any changes to the lineup, so they’ll stick with Logan Stanley on the third pairing with Dylan Samberg.
Winnipegger Cody Glass will be a healthy scratch for the Predators, but he’s keeping up a positive attitude and is happy to see the team performing well, even though he’s been limited to 39 games this season.
Here’s some other information to get you ready:
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: The Colorado Avalanche have 29 wins on home ice this season, a total no other NHL team can top. They’ve won just 19 times away from Ball Arena, which has them dead-last among the 11 teams that have currently qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
I mention this today to point out how important the next nine days are for the Winnipeg Jets.
Starting off their first-round playoff series at Canada Life Centre, rather than in the Mile High City, could ultimately prove to be the difference between success and failure. The Jets have a golden opportunity to claim that benefit, starting with tonight.
The math couldn’t be more simple. Win their remaining five regular-season games and the Jets can finish no worse than second in the Central Division, regardless of anything else that happens around the league. But lose one (or two, three, four or five), and they’ll need help from the out-of-town scoreboard.
Although Saturday’s game in St. Paul wasn’t flashy, it was highly effective and the type of hockey that will give the Jets a fighting chance to have a successful spring. Perhaps most promising was the play of the fourth line, with Vlad Namestnikov, Morgan Barron and Alex Iafallo all netting their 11th goals of the year. Teams that go on long playoff runs usually have ample depth scoring, and we saw that on display in a big way.
All three of those skaters have shown an ability to play further up the lineup, something that isn’t needed right now given Winnipeg’s roster. The end result is a potent fourth line that has the potential to do a lot more than just kill a few minutes of ice time each game but actually be difference-makers.
Assuming everyone stays healthy, I’m fascinated to see how coach Rick Bowness works Nino Niederreiter back in once he’s returned from injury.
My guess is he goes back to his usual spot with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton on the third line, and Tyler Toffoli moves back up to the second line with Sean Monahan and Kyle Connor. Which, for Cole Perfetti, would likely mean a return to the press box as a healthy scratch despite some strong recent play. These continue to be good problems to have.
Since reuniting with Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi, Mark Scheifele has had trouble putting numbers up on the board in the last three games. (Adam Hunger / The Associated Press files)
KEN SAYS: One of the priorities for the Jets during the final five games — along with being sound defensively — is to find the right mix in the top-six forward group. The trio of Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi has posted sound underlying numbers but hasn’t been as productive since they’ve been put back together.
They will be given some additional time to see what is going to happen, but Jets head coach Rick Bowness was asked about their play Monday and it sounds like other options will be considered before the playoffs arrive.
It’s been strange to see Mark Scheifele held to just one shot on goal during the past three games, and that’s a trend that needs to change.
“Yeah. He’s got to shoot the puck a little bit more,” said Bowness. “Gabe (Vilardi) hangs onto the puck, right? He’s good with it. So, that line had a little chemistry earlier. It hasn’t clicked back, yet. It doesn’t mean it won’t. Let’s see where it goes. We can always make those adjustments in game.”
Along with an excellent goalie battle, this is another showcase game for a pair of candidates to be on Norris Trophy ballots in the coming weeks between Jets blue-liner Josh Morrissey and Predators D-man Roman Josi, the 2019-20 winner. Morrissey is second in scoring on the Jets (63 points), just three points behind Scheifele.
Those totals are more impressive when you consider that only 16 of his points have come on the power play. Josi has 21 goals (marking the second time in his career he’s eclipsed the 20-goal mark) and 78 points in 78 games this season to sit second on the Predators behind Filip Forsberg (43 goals, 89 points).
For the sake of comparison, Josi has 30 of his 78 points on the power play. Morrissey and Josi are elite skaters who also defend very well. They are difference-makers for their respective teams and they’re fun to watch.
Speaking of defencemen, it’s another opportunity for Stanley to show what he can do against a playoff team that plays a physical style. He’s taken strides forward but must continue to do so in this battle for the sixth spot on the depth chart with Nate Schmidt and Colin Miller.
Lastly, Bridgestone Arena is a fantastic rink to watch a game and this tilt featuring Central Division rivals should feature plenty of intensity.
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