NASHVILLE, Tenn – The Jets were still buzzing as they had just made one of the biggest trades in the NHL as they sent injured and disgruntled winger Evander Kane and defenceman Zach Bogosian to the Buffalo Sabres for winger Drew Stafford and defenceman Tyler Myers along with prospects Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux and a first round pick in this year’s draft. This was a massive deal for both clubs. The Jets new players Myers and Stafford were in the lineup tonight as they met their new teammates in Nashville for a big Central Division clash. The Jets threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Predators net but ended up on the losing end by a 3-1 margin.
“We knew that they were going to play hard,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “They’re in a position where they’re fighting, and they’re trying to make the most of everything that’s available to them. Those are good games for us to get into. The division games always seem to be a little bit tougher. Our games with Winnipeg have been the same, as well as tonight. Hard fought.”
Nashville is the first team to 80 points and sit in top spot overall in the West as well as the NHL. The Jets are now in a dog fight for the final two spots as they still hold down the first wild card position.
Pekka Rinne was in the pipes for the Predators and he has never lost to the Jets and is a perfect 7-0 against them. He stood on his head stopping 32 shots out of 33 total shots. He made a couple of beauties off Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. He also got some help from his posts as the Jets hit three bars tonight. He was named the game’s first star.
“I thought that tonight was as hard of a game as we’ve had this year,” Rinne said. “It was a tight, even matchup, and both teams had some chances. Just a solid hockey game.”
Ondrej Pavelec was in net for the Jets and he made 23 saves off 26 Nashville shots. He wasn’t quite as busy but did make a couple great stops including one off Colin Wilson that will be on Sports Centre top ten for sure.
This was a really fast skating game not a lot of hits but they were all very hard hits. Nashville is a fast transition team and they had the Jets on their heels early before the Jets got things figured out and reversed the game and took it to the Preds. If not for some stellar goaltending the Jets could have easily won this game.
Special teams were a factor as both teams had their chances on the power play with Nashville going 2-6 and Winnipeg going 1-5 including a minute and a half two man advantage.
Winnipeg got its lone goal off the stick of Michael Frolik who tipped a Dustin Byfuglien shot for his 11th of the season.
Nashville got goals from Shea Weber his 13th , Filip Forsberg his 19th , James Neal his 19th.
“It was pretty open to be honest,” Forsberg said. “[Nashville defenseman Roman Josi] kind of pulled the whole PK over to one side and just gave it to me, so I had all the time in the world basically just to pick my corner. I got a really good screen from [forward James Neal] and also from their D-man so it was a pretty easy goal to score.”
Winnipeg will head to Detroit for a Saturday night show down against the Red Wings.
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