The Winnipeg Jets look to make it three wins in a row when they host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Tuesday’s game is the third and final matchup between these Central Division rivals this season. Winnipeg won the first two meetings, 4-1 on Oct. 18 at home and 5-2 on Nov. 29 in Nashville.
The Jets swept their home back-to-back over the weekend, starting with a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Kyle Connor contributed a goal and an assist in that game, Mark Scheifele had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves.
“They’re obviously a dangerous team, and they like to wind it up,” Connor said about the visiting Avs. “We just were aware of that and did a good job of (guarding against) that. And they were doing lots of switches, crossing drops, and I thought our D-zone was great. We’re just kind of patient and help each other out, and are able to jump on a lot of plays.”
Connor scored again on Sunday as the Jets held off the St. Louis Blues, 3-2. Scheifele also found the back of the net while Haydn Fleury had a goal and an assist. Eric Comrie made 29 saves in his first start since Feb. 25. He extended his personal winning streak to five games — a run that began way back on Jan. 9.
“It can be tough sometimes because you go a long time without playing,” Comrie said. “I just try and do my job once my name gets called, just trying to be ready whenever I get my chance. And I feel good right now.”
Meanwhile, the Predators are eager to get back in the win column after dropping three of their last four games, all of which have been on the road. They are coming off a rough visit to Edmonton, where the Oilers topped them 3-1 on Sunday.
Fedor Svechkov scored the lone goal for Nashville to make it 2-1 in the third period, then Steven Stamkos came close to tying the game late when his shot rang off the post. Instead, the Oilers buried an empty-net goal to secure the two-goal advantage. Justus Annunen made 27 saves for Nashville.
“I liked our game, even from the start,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. “We knew they’d be a desperate team, and I thought we handled ourselves pretty well. Obviously, you give up the PK goal a little bit early, but I thought it was a battle out there; they’re a very good hockey team. Power play didn’t connect, kind of let us down a little bit tonight, and hit the crossbar, post… So, another one of those games that we’ve been in a million of them, we just didn’t get on the right end of it.”
