Predators 7, Jets 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville forward Craig Smith's three first-period points - as many as he had scored in the Predators' first 15 games - sparked the Predators to a 7-0 win Saturday over visiting Winnipeg.
It was the second seven-goal game of the season and the homestand for Nashville (10-3-3), which defeated Ottawa 7-5 on Tuesday.
Smith, who entered the night with three goals, had a goal and a pair of assists as the Predators shelled Jets starting goalkeeper Michael Hutchinson early. Nashville took a 3-0 lead just 12 minutes into the matchup and led 4-0 at the first intermission.
Hutchinson stopped four of seven Nashville shots before he was replaced by Ondrej Pavelec, who didn't fare much better against the Predators as they rebounded from their 2-1 shootout loss Thursday to visiting Toronto.
Unable to convert a two-minute power play after Winnipeg's Mark Stuart was whistled for tripping less than two minutes into the contest, the Predators took a 1-0 lead with 15:15 to play in the opening period when center Calle Jarnkrok scored off the left wing with Cody Hodgson and Barret Jackman assisting.
Just over a minute later, Smith took a pass just in front of the goal and slid it past Hutchinson (with defenseman Seth Jones and left winger Filip Forsberg credited with assists) for a 2-0 lead.
With eight minutes remaining in the period, Jones drilled one in from the Jets' blue line off assists from Smith and center Mike Ribeiro, spelling the end of Hutchinson's night. Pavelec came on in relief, and Ribeiro greeted him two minutes later off assists from Smith and defenseman Ryan Ellis to make it a 4-0 game.
Left winger James Neal scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season less than three minutes into the second period off assists from center Colin Wilson and defenseman Roman Josi, extending the Nashville margin to 5-0.
Midway through the second period, Jones was clipped near center ice and went flying, touching off a series of skirmishes that kept the officiating crew busy. Winnipeg left wing Adam Lowry and right wing Chris Thorburn received five-minute fighting penalties, as did Nashville center Colton Sissons and Jackman - with Thorburn and Jackman getting misconduct calls as well. Stuart and Nashville left wing Austin Watson each drew two-minute unsportsmanlike penalties.
Five minutes into the final period, officials handed out 12 penalties - 10 unsportsmanlikes, a slashing and a leaving the crease - resulting in a two-minute power play for Winnipeg (8-2-2) that proved unproductive. On the night, the Jets managed just 16 shots on goal as Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne turned in his second shutout of the year.
Jarnkrok added a power-play goal with 8:04 remaining off assists from Ellis and Jones, and defenseman Mattias Ekholm scored a power-play goal at the 6:27 mark with Hodgson and Neal assisting.
The win was Nashville's second of a five-game homestand that concludes Tuesday against Anaheim.
NOTES: Entering Saturday's play, the Predators had not lost consecutive games this season. Nashville dropped a 2-1 shootout decision Thursday to visiting Toronto. ... Predators' defensemen have scored the most goals and the third-most points of any group of defenders in the NHL. D Roman Josi leads the way with 11 points (four goals, seven assists). Overall, Nashville's stoppers have scored 14 goals along with 27 assists for 41 points, trailing Dallas (46 points, 10 goals) and Montreal (43 points, five goals). ... In its last trip to Nashville, Winnipeg defeated the Predators 3-1 on March 7. ... Winnipeg scratches were D Adam Pardy, D Paul Postma and RW Anthony Peluso. Nashville scratches were D Anthony Bitetto, C Paul Gaustad and D Victor Bartley.