Jets grab series lead with 7-4 win over Predators

[May 02, 2018]  Blake Wheeler's tiebreaking goal at 15:01 of the third period Tuesday night led the Winnipeg Jets to a 7-4 win over the visiting Nashville Predators in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Bell MTS Place.

The result gave the Jets a 2-1 series lead in a matchup of the NHL's top two regular-season teams. Game 4 is Thursday night in Winnipeg.

The Jets trailed 3-0 after one period before scoring the only four goals of the second period.

With the score 4-4 late in the third and Nashville's P.K. Subban in the penalty box for high-sticking, the Jets converted the third of their four man advantages in the period. Wheeler roofed a wrister from the bottom edge of the right circle.

Wheeler and Brandon Tanev added empty-netters in the final minute to continue Winnipeg's run of home dominance. The Jets haven't lost at home since Feb. 27, when Nashville rallied for a 6-5 victory.

Nashville tied the game at 7:40 of the third when Filip Forsberg wired a wrister over Connor Hellebuyck for his fifth playoff goal.

Hellebuyck made 26 saves, including a glove stop on Viktor Arvidsson's breakaway that could have given the Predators a 5-4 lead just past the midway part of the third.

Pekka Rinne saved 38 of 43 shots in a losing cause.

Nashville completely dominated the first period. Mike Fisher initiated scoring with his first playoff goal since a triple-overtime game-winner in 2016, collecting the rebound of Mattias Ekholm's point shot and poking it home at 4:53.

 Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson (38) screens Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) on a goal by Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg (9) (not shown) during the third period of game three of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Subban made it 2-0 on the power play at 10:06 with his second goal, a one-timer from the top of the left circle that squirted through the pads of Hellebuyck. Austin Watson capped the period with his fifth of the playoffs at 17:35.

Winnipeg answered back by completely owning the second period. Paul Stastny got the Jets on the board at 2:38 by deflecting Jacob Trouba's point blast for his third goal. It was originally ruled no goal, but the call overturned after a video review.

The Jets tied it with two goals in 18 seconds. Dustin Byfuglien bombed a slapper from between the circles at 5:11, followed by Trouba's second goal of the playoffs after a Predators turnover. Byfuglien finished off the explosion at 19:15 with his third playoff tally on a one-timer from the left circle.

--Field Level Media

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