Nashville, TN – The Nashville Predators continue to struggle finding the back of the net, falling behind early, then chasing the game and unable to hold off the Winnipeg Jets, 2-1.
Winnipeg scored just 18 seconds into the game when Patrik Laine completed a classic “give and go” with Kyle Connor to put the Jets on the board, 1-0.
The Predators have been falling behind early in their last series of games and just haven’t been able to rally back for a win. The effort has been there, but the goal tending against them has been superior. Tonight it was Connor Hellebuyck for Winnipeg that held off the Predators.
Juuse Saros started in goal for Nashville in place of Pekka Rinne, and held off 21 of 23 shots in net, but couldn’t get any offensive support from his teammates.Nikolaj Ehlers took a pass from Jack Roslovic and buried the wrist shot at 3:47 of the second period to give Winnipeg their winning goal, and took a 2-0 lead.
Nashville finally got on the board at 18:11 of the second period when Nick Bonino took a feed from Rocco Grimaldi to find the open net and put the Predators on the board, and cut the lead in half, 2-1.
But that would be all she wrote for Nashville who is in the midst of a losing streak that stretches back to November 7th when they suffered their most embarrassing loss in franchise history to Colorado, 9-4.
Losses to San Jose, Vancouver and Chicago preceded tonight’s loss to the Jets.
Once again the Predators outshot their opponent 39-25 but came up short on the scoreboard.
Nashville will host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night to once again earn points and get into the win column. Puck drops at 7:00pm.