WINNIPEG – If it wasn’t for bad luck the Winnipeg Jets would have no luck at all. The Jets didn’t get any bounces in a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday at MTS Centre.
Two of the Predators goals went in off skates and the game winning goal came at the end of a Predators powerplay that they probably didn’t even deserve. Tyler Myers sent Filip Forsberg flying into the boards in the third period and was sent off for interference even though Forsberg was playing the puck.
“These guys make bad calls.” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. “There’s stuff that happens on the ice that they miss. There’s no interference. It’s a clean hit.”
“We were not happy at all with the Tyler Myers’ penalty,” Drew Stafford said. “And sure enough they score on it.”
Craig Smith tallied two goals for Nashville. Colton Sissons and Ryan Johansen scored the other Predators markers. Winnipeg’s Colin Wilson had two assists for Nashville in the win.
“Two goals off skates.” said Stafford. “Our powerplay not getting the job done. We had our chances. I had quite a few chances. Could have had a couple tonight that didn’t go in.”
Stafford scored once while Jacob Trouba had the other goal for the Jets. Winnipeg’s powerplay was 0-for-4.
“We got to find a way.” Trouba said. “We got enough skilled players in here and enough talent that we should be able to make something happen on the powerplay.”
Ondrej Pavelec stopped 27 of 31 shots in making a third consecutive start.
Mark Scheifele and Marko Dano both had to leave the game after getting hit into the boards. Both players returned to the game. Austin Watson ran over Dano in the corner. Watson was given a major penalty for an illegal check to the head. He was also given a match penalty for attempt to injure and a game misconduct. But Dano wouldn’t call it a dirty hit.
“It was just unlucky.” Dano said. “I was turning and he was trying to hit me in my body but I was a little low so he caught my chin. I’m alright so that’s all that matters.”
The Jets opened the scoring just past the seven minute mark. Pekka Rinne made the initial save and thought he had it covered up. But Stafford poked in the loose puck for his 17th goal of the season ending a 12 game goalless drought. Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler drew the assists and the Jets led 1-0.
Winnipeg came inches away from going up by two late in period number one. Tyler Myers made an unbelievable pass to leave Stafford the wide open net but he clanged it off the goal post.
Only moments later the Preds made two quick passes before Smith finished it off to tie the game at one. Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Ellis picked up the assists.
Only seconds later Sissons carried into the Jets zone and his centring pass bounced off the skate of Ben Chiarot and in behind Pavelec. The Predators scored goals just 11 seconds apart. Wilson and Shea Weber had the assists. Nashville was up 2-1 after one period. Winnipeg had the edge in shots 8-6.
After Watson was ejected the Jets went to work with a five minute man advantage but failed to capitalize and the Jets trailed by one after 40 minutes.
Four minutes into the third period the Jets broke in on a 2-on-1 shorthanded. Adam Lowry sent it across to Trouba but Rinne made a nice stop to preserve the one goal lead.
Not long after, Forsberg had a shorthanded breakaway for Nashville but Pavelec took care of business to keep it a 2-1 game.
The Predators powerplay struck with 11:06 to go. Wilson found a wide open Johansen who fanned on his first attempt but buried the shot with his second chance. His 11th made it 3-1 with Sissons grabbing the other assist.
The Jets inched back into the game with six minutes remaining. Alex Burmistrov’s shot squeezed past Rinne and Trouba tapped it into the wide open net. Trouba’s sixth goal of the season made it a one goal game. The Preds used a coaches challenge arguing their was goalie interference. But the challenge was denied. Dano also recorded an assist for his first point since joining the Jets.
But Nashville answered right back. On the odd man rush Forsberg sent the pass in front and it ricocheted in off the skate of Smith. Smith’s second goal of the game and 18th of the season restored the two goal lead and closed out the scoring in a 4-2 Nashville victory.
Scott Kosmachuk made his NHL debut after getting recalled from the Manitoba Moose earlier on Tuesday. He was held without a shot but had three hits in 9:25 of ice time. He’s the sixth player to make his NHL debut with the Jets this season.
Anthony Peluso, Bryan Little, Nikolaj Ehlers and Joel Armia were all scratched.
The Jets finished the five game homestand with just three of a possible 10 points. They now head out on the road for one game on Thursday in Detroit. They will then return home to tangle with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at MTS Centre.
WATCH: The Jets react following a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators
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