Jets 4, Predators 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Talk about your total turnarounds.
The Winnipeg Jets authored one Tuesday night in Bridgestone Arena, receiving 43 saves from rookie goalie Connor Hellebuyck as they dumped the Nashville Predators 4-1 at Bridgestone Arena.
In improving to 9-4-0, Hellebuyck enabled Winnipeg (19-19-2) to avenge a 7-0 rout at Nashville's hands on Nov. 14, a game that featured 156 penalty minutes and one sequence where each team had six players in the penalty box at the same time.
There was none of that foolishness this time, only matchless goaltending from Hellebuyck. He made 10 saves in the first 6 1/2 minutes, denying right winger Craig Smith on a breakaway and left winger Colin Wilson on a backhander at the goalmouth to keep the game scoreless.
After spending most of the first 10 minutes playing defense, the Jets converted on just their second shot. Right winger Drew Stafford potted his 13th goal of the season on a power play, tapping in a centering pass from defenseman Tyler Myers at 10:43.
Predators coach Peter Laviolette challenged the ruling, claiming that Winnipeg was offside on Myers' rush, but replay confirmed the linesman's no-call.
Stafford made it 2-0 at 8:42 of the second period with another power play marker, deflecting a point blast from defenseman Toby Enstrom. The Jets entered the night as the 29th-ranked team in the NHL on the power play.
Defenseman Ben Chiarot upped the margin to 3-0 with his first goal of the season, a wrister from the left faceoff circle, at 5:05 of the third period.
Wilson spoiled Hellebuyck's shutout bid with his fourth goal at 13:23, taking a pass by defenseman Roman Josi in the slot and burying a wrister.
Center Alexander Burmistrov wrapped up the scoring with an empty-net tally at 19:30, his fourth marker of the season.
Goalie Pekka Rinne (16-12-6) finished with 14 saves for Nashville (19-14-7), which was playing its only home game in an eight-game stretch.
NOTES: Winnipeg G Ondrej Pavelec (knee), who has been idle since Nov. 21, could practice for the first time Wednesday. Pavelec was injured in a collision with Arizona's Shane Doan. ... Nashville signed C Frederick Gaudreau to a two-year entry-level contract. Gaudreau has nine goals and 15 assists this season for the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Milwaukee. ... The Jets scratched D Adam Pardy, D Paul Postma and RW Anthony Peluso. ... The Predators scratches were D Anthony Bitetto, D Petter Granberg and LW Austin Watson.