Wheeler leads Jets over Nashville

In Nashville, the Winnipeg Jets fell behind, 0-2, to the Predators on Saturday night, and like most teams, the Predators let their foot off the gas.

Winnipeg’s Blake Wheeler hit for a double and assisted on three goals as the Jets rallied for a 5-2 win.

“Obviously going down 2-0 isn’t how you want to start a game, but we knew they were going to start hard,” Winnipeg’ Pierre-Luc Dubois said. “As the game got on, I thought we played better and better. We know the reality in front of us is we can’t lose too many games here. Every game is going to be important.”

Dubois had a strike in the five-goal run.

Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves in the win.

Four of the five Jets goals were off the power play.

“I think penalties has been a part of our team the whole year,” Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm said. “We’ve still been able to win games. But now it’s starting to bite us. … I know guys don’t want to take penalties. It’s not like someone is trying to go out there and take a penalty. That’s just been the case as of late and that’s something that needs to (change).”

Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene were the Nashville strikers in the quick two-goal outburst to start the game.

The Predators dropped to 28-16-4.

“You look at tonight, we gave up a 4-on-4 goal, three power-play goals and a 6-on-5 goal,” Predators head coach John Hynes said. “Those are some special situations that we have to do a better job of in those areas.”

Mark Scheifele‘s goal started the Winnipeg rally, his was the only even strength goal for the Jets.

“For us to be successful, you need your best players,” Jets coach Dave Lowry said. “They stayed with the game. We got down early and we didn’t waver. We bent, and I really liked the resiliency, and I really liked the fact that our top guys dug in and really found a way to win.”

Kyle Connor also scored for the Jets.

“I think we went out there with a lot confidence knowing that was the hockey game,” Wheeler said. “We had to bury one. Regardless of the scenario, you get five minutes on the power play with the game on the line, you want to make it count.”

Winnipeg improved to 20-17-8.

Juuse Saros made 38 saves in the Preds loss.