Predators - 3, Jets - 6: Connor Scores Hat Trick, Stale Preds Power Play Ends Nashville's Road Trip with Loss

Filip Forsberg scored twice, but not enough offense, too many penalties, and no goals on five power play chances stopped Nashville from getting past Kyle Connor and the Winnipeg Jets.

After over a week of travel, the Nashville Predators finally made their final stop on the five game Western road trip as they faced off against the Winnipeg Jets. The Predators entered tonight's game with just one win in the first four games on the road including a disappointing loss on Tuesday night in Calgary. 

Head coach Andrew Brunette made adjustments again tonight to the lineup bringing in Phil Tomasino and making Juuso Pärssinen a healthy scratch. Marc Del Gaizo started in his third NHL game as Ryan McDonagh continued to be out with a lower body injury. 

The Jets came into tonight's game with back to back Central Division wins over the Arizona Coyotes and St. Louis Blues. Backup Laurent Brossoit got the start in net for the Jets. 

It was a much better start to the game for the Nashville Predators, but it was Winnipeg who got on the scoreboard first with a group effort goal at 4:04. Three Jets players crashed the net in front of Juuse Saros, but it was ultimately Tyson Barrie that touched the puck last before it went past Saros to give Winnipeg the early lead.

Filip Forsberg answered back at 6:43 by corralling a pass at the blue line from a falling Gus Nyquist and skating into the slot to score five hole on Brossoit. The physicality of the game amped up after a legal hit by Jeremy Lauzon didn't sit well with Jets captain Adam Lowry and the two dropped gloves to settle the issue. Both players spent five minutes in their respective boxes for fighting, and play continued. 

The line of Tommy Novak, Kiefer Sherwood, and Luke Evangelista generated extended offensive zone time, but the Predators weren't able to finish off with a goal. 

A hard hit on Marc Del Gaizo riled up Cole Smith who dropped the gloves with Lowry who had just exited the box. Both players were penalized five minutes for fighting, but Smith earned a two minute instigator infraction and a ten minute misconduct. The Jets peppered Saros during the power play with five shots, but Saros and the penalty kill were able to survive the two minutes. 

The teams headed into the locker room with the Jets holding the shot advantage 14-7 but a tie on the scoreboard. 

An early defensive breakdown by the Predators left Jets' goal leader Kyle Connor wide open in the slot, and he gave Winnipeg the lead at 1:05 in the second period. Connor struck again off the rush taking the puck at the blue line, skating behind Carrier, and holding it until the last second to score past a sprawling Saros at 3:48 giving the Jets a quick 3-1 lead. 

Momentum leaned in Winnipeg's direction as Marc Del Gaizo headed to the penalty box for lifting the puck over the glass. Winnipeg's potent power play went back to work. With :30 remaining in the power play, Gus Nyquist was called for interference to give the Jets a 5 on 3 opportunity. Cole Perfetti cashed in on the chance at 10:33. 

As the Jets were playing the rest of the Nyquist penalty, they committed a too many men on the ice infraction. The teams played four on four, and Filip Forsberg snapped the puck past Brossoit at 12:05 to give Nashville a goal with a power play.remaining. The Preds' power play couldn't capitalize, but with :01 left on the power play, Winnipeg committed a second too many men penalty to extend the man advantage. Two minutes passed, and the Predators missed an opportunity to score again. 

Two no calls frustrated Andrew Brunette and the Predators, but play continued through the remainder of the period which ended with the Jets up 4-2. 

Nashville came out with more fire and composure to start the third period. At 6:53, Nikolaj Ehlers headed to the box for a holding penalty. Nashville set up briefly in the offensive zone but couldn't maintain sustained pressure on the power play. 

Almost immediately, Brenden Dillon was whistled for a slash on Marc Del Gaizo, and the Preds headed back on the man advantage. With 1:03 remaining on the power play, Ryan O'Reilly was called for interference, and play went to four on four. Neither team could capitalize on the extra ice space, and Nashville's penalty kill managed the remainder of the Jets' power play time. 

The Jets scored as soon as the teams returned to five a side. It was initially waved off for goalie interference, but a long chat between the officials reversed the call which put the challenge ball in Nashville's court. Brunette opted to not challenge for goaltending interference, and the goal was recorded at 12:51. 

At 14:02 Cole Perfetti headed to the busy box for a hooking call. Saros headed to the bench to add an extra attacker for the six on four advantage. Nashville pressured Brossoit but couldn't get the puck past him in the flurry. Saros remained on the bench, and at 16:16 Phil Tomasino tipped the puck in to get back to a two goal deficit. 

After the face off, Saros headed back to the bench, but a fumbled puck was picked up by Kyle Connor who scored a hat trick on a late empty net goal. The game ended with a final score of 6-3, and Nashville headed home with a 1-4 record on their five game road trip.