The Winnipeg Jets erased a 2-0 lead the visiting Nashville Predators held midway through the second period.
The Jets scored five of the game’s next six goals to take a 5-3 win.
Blake Wheeler had a goal for the Jets in win over Nashville – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“It was just patience,” Blake Wheeler said. “Didn’t open the game up, didn’t try to do too much. It’s a good sign. The end of February has been rough to us. To show that type of confidence to stay with our game plan, even when it wasn’t going our way, that was awesome.”
The Jets improved to 38-22-4 and reclaimed first in the Central Division with a point clearance.
Mark Scheifele and and newcomer Kevin Hayes each had a goal and three points on the night.
“Those guys carry a completely different pressure than a lot of other players,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said of their top line. “They have to do both, right? They have to play against one of the best lines in the League, and then they’re expected to score, and being on for one (against), I think they got fired up after that.”
Laurent Brossoit made 35 saves for the win.
The Preds are playing mediocre hockey of late with a 3-3-0 record over their last six matches.
“I think, at times, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot with being a little bit aggressive, trying to push for that next one, push for that next one,” Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “If we get that one, we’re obviously in a comfortable spot. Tonight, we didn’t. They counter and they buried.”
Viktor Arvidsson, P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm were the strikers for Nashville.
“Every loss stings, but these divisional games are so huge and it’s so tight with the way [the] St. Louis [Blues have] been playing,” Predators forward Colton Sissons said. “And obviously, us and the Jets have been head-to-head all year and they have a couple of games in hand, so this one [stinks] big time … but plenty of opportunity to bounce back.”
Wheeler, Kyle Connor and Tyler Myers also scored for the Jets.
“We’re in that final stretch here where we need to figure out what kind of team we’re going to be going into the playoffs,” Hayes said. “And going down 2-0 and battling back, I thought we showed some pretty good adversity there.”
[WATCH: All Predators vs. Jets highlights]
Pekka Rinne made 27 saves in the loss.
“Yeah, it was back and forth. They caught a couple quick ones to get back in it late in the period. And then the third went back and forth. I thought we were playing a pretty good third period. We went down and took a punch and missed, and they came back and put it in the net. So it went back and forth pretty good,” Predators head coach Peter Laviolette said.
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