Jets vs. Predators live stream, Game 4

Nashville collected an NHL-high 117 points in the regular season to win the Presidents’ Trophy, while Winnipeg finished second.

With a three-goal first period lead, there’s no doubt many members of the Nashville Predators were convinced it was just a matter of 40 minutes until they reclaimed home-ice advantage in their second-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets. In three games with the Winnipeg Jets in this series they have allowed three. The best way to win was to shut the Jets down.

That was the Jets first home loss since February 27th, which was also a loss to the Predators.

The biggest difference in the Predators laying back in the neutral zone was they were working seamlessly in five-man units. Hits from Hartnell, Ryan Hartman, PK Subban, MIikka Salomaki and Colton Sissons separated the Jets from the puck over and over again and kept the high-flying Jets offense grounded for the most part.

And even when they did break through, Pekka Rinne was there to turn aside 32 pucks.

It certainly wouldn’t be intimidation, but did it get him to shift his focus a bit? Game 4 will be at Bell MTS Place on Thursday night, with Game 5 in Nashville on Saturday. The mental and emotional game of the Predators crumbled like 2007 Britney Spears. However, the Predators used changes in personnel and adopted a more defensive style to keep the explosive Jets shackled.

Last night, however, was a different story.

On the other bench, Nashville is 58-33 straight up (SU) and has netted 11.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. Rinne is averaging 28.6 saves per game and has 47 wins, 21 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit.

At even strength, he skated and shut down the Predators’ top players, controlling play and tilting the ice heavily in Winnipeg’s favor.

Shane Gersich, who played for UND this season, made his National Hockey League playoff debut Thursday night for the Washington Capitals against two-time Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh. “Momentum is going to change many times during the game and there are a lot of things that can happen”.

The Jets trailed the Predators the entire game and they cut the lead in half late.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result, so Preds head coach Peter Laviolette chose to shake things up a bit in his lineup, replacing Kevin Fiala with Scott Hartnell on the second line. His impact was immediate as he and Dustin Byfuglien tangled along the wall early in the game.

On the flip side, Wheeler has two goals, Paul Stastny has two goals (double check) and Laine has one.

It was not all easy. If the series makes it to seven games, Game Seven will be at Bridgestone Arena.

He is proving that you do not have to be huge to be a pest and be effective in front of the goalie. “But that wasn’t the case in the first 30 minutes”. Their lone tally of the game came from Patrik Laine during a 6v4 power play with just under a minute to play.

Or might one of the other young scorers on the Jets be able to break the goose egg that is now under the goal column. The Winnipeg Jets are averaging 3.3 goals per game and are scoring on 23.4 percent of their power play opportunities.

The home team in this head-to-head match-up is 9-4 in the last 13 games, and the Jets are 2-5 in their last seven games in Nashville.

“He’s an elite goaltender, obviously, I think both goaltenders in this series are”, Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said.