Jets at Predators

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/05/2018 (2941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS

Nashville prevailed 2-1 Thursday in Game 4, the first real defensive battle of the Western Conference semi-final series between a pair of offensively explosive squads. RW Ryan Hartman opened the scoring with 2:40 left in the first period at Bell MTS Place, while D P.K. Subban, a target of boos all night long, made it 2-0 with a power-play goal with just over five minutes left in the second.

The Predators had to scramble a bit to preserve the victory. Jets RW Patrik Laine ripped a power-play goal with 51 seconds left in the final frame. The Jets pulled G Connor Hellebuyck to make it a 6-on-4, and he was back on the bench for an extra attacker in the waning seconds, although the hosts couldn’t get the equalizer.

LW Filip Forsberg helped set up Subban’s tally and leads all Nashville skaters with five goals and 12 points in 10 post-season games this year. C Ryan Johansen also picked up an assist and has four goals and 10 points.

G Pekka Rinne was superb in Game 4, stopping 32 of 33 shots to lower his playoff goals-against average to 2.86 and save percentage to .909. He’s been particularly tough on Laine, who has found the back of the net just once on 20 shots through the first four games of the series.

Veteran LW Scott Hartnell made his series debut and was a physical presence, dishing out four hits to lead his club. LW Viktor Arvidsson didn’t hit the scoresheet but a leaping screen in front of Hellebuyck — becoming his trademark in this series — was key on Subban’s goal.

What they’re saying…

C Ryan Johansen: “It felt like a basketball game, the last 2 minutes (of Game 4). You just have to make sure you stay focused. You don’t know what play is going to make a difference and just find a way to get it done. It was good on everybody there in those last couple of minutes to do a good job.’’

RW Ryan Hartman: “We got home-ice advantage back, two home games of the next three, and a best-of-three series from here on out. So, we’re ready to get back at it (Saturday) at the Bridgestone and looking forward to what the fans are going to bring.”

D Yannick Weber: “I think (Thursday) was good for us to see the way we have to play if we want to beat (Winnipeg). I mean finally, we’re able to have a consistent effort the way we want to play, and I think we just have to have the same mindset (Saturday). We know what works now, and it’s going to be awesome to be at home in front of our fans and it’s going to be a lot of support for us”

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

35 Pekka Rinne G
74 Juuse Saros G

2 Anthony Bitetto D
4 Ryan Ellis D (A)
8 Kyle Turris C
9 Filip Forsberg LW (A)
10 Colton Sissons LW
11 Eeli Tolvanen RW
12 Mike Fisher C
13 Nick Bonino C
14 Mattias Ekholm D
15 Craig Smith C
17 Scott Hartnell LW
19 Calle Järnkrok C
20 Miikka Salomäki RW
22 Kevin Fiala LW
25 Alexei Emelin D
33 Viktor Arvidsson LW
38 Ryan Hartman RW
51 Austin Watson RW
52 Matt Irwin D
59 Roman Josi D (C)
76 P.K. Subban D
92 Ryan Johansen C

Head coach: Peter Laviolette
Assistant coaches: Kevin McCarthy, Dan Muse
Goalie coach: Ben Vanderklok
Video coach: Lawrence Feloney

WINNIPEG JETS

34 Michael Hutchinson G
35 Steve Mason G
37 Connor Hellebuyck G

3 Tucker Poolman D
7 Ben Chiarot D
8 Jacob Trouba D
9 Andrew Copp C
13 Brandon Tanev RW
15 Matt Hendricks C
16 Shawn Matthias LW
17 Adam Lowry C
18 Bryan Little C
25 Paul Stastny C
26 Blake Wheeler RW (C)
27 Nikolaj Ehlers LW
29 Patrik Laine RW
33 Dustin Byfuglien D (A)
39 Toby Enström D
40 Joel Armia RW
44 Josh Morrissey D
52 Jack Roslovic LW
55 Mark Scheifele C (A)
56 Marko Dano LW
57 Tyler Myers D
70 Joe Morrow D
81 Kyle Connor LW
85 Mathieu Perreault C

Head coach: Paul Maurice
Assistant coaches: Charlie Huddy, Jamie Kompon, Todd Woodcroft
Goalie coach: Wade Flaherty
Video coach: Matt Prefontaine

(lineups subject to change)

— Jason Bell