Winnipeg @ Nashville preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2018 ) Winnipeg 0, Nashville 3

The Winnipeg Jets travel to the Nashville Predators on Thursday in a matchup of the top teams in the Central Division, both of whom seek to extend a recent run of strong play as the All-Star break looms next weekend. They won again Tuesday as the Jets, who lead the Central with 62 points, extended their win streak to three as forward Kyle Connor scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Vegas, while the Predators remained two points back with a 7-2 rout of Washington.

Nashville forward Viktor Arvidsson led the way to his team’s sixth victory in nine games with his second career hat trick, and the Predators reached a season high in goals while completing a season sweep of the defending Stanley Cup champions. “He was a big difference maker tonight,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told reporters about Arvidsson, who has five goals and an assist in his past four games. “He plays the same way every night, and (Tuesday) he was able to chip in three and his line was good.” The Jets used a standout performance from backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who gave Connor Hellebuyck the night off and made 43 saves as Winnipeg handed Vegas only its second loss in the past 10 games. “It felt like the game ramped up as it went on,” Connor told the media after his second three-point game in three contests. “It’s hard to emulate the playoffs, but that’s pretty close to how it’s going to be.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE JETS (30-14-2): Forward Blake Wheeler collected two assists Tuesday to give him seven in his past six games and 51 on the season, two off the NHL lead. Forward Mathieu Perreault added his 10th goal of the season - his seventh since Dec. 11 - for a Jets' offense that was sixth in the league in scoring per game (3.46) entering Wednesday. Winnipeg travels to Dallas on Saturday before its players break and the pause for the All-Star break, giving the Jets eight days off before visiting Philadelphia on Jan. 28.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (28-16-4): Nashville ranked 10th in the NHL in goals scored per game (3.15) and welcomed being home after a 3-1-2 road trip as backup goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 26 shots. Center Nick Bonino added two goals while defenseman Mattias Ekholm chipped in two assists for the Predators, who have scored three or more goals in 10 consecutive games (four or more in six). Defenseman Yannick Weber played 14:29 on Tuesday after missing the past 10 games with an injury.

OVERTIME

1. Arvidsson’s hat trick is the fifth this season for Nashville, setting a franchise record.

2. Brossoit established a franchise record for saves in a period Tuesday with 26 in the second period.

3. The Predators finished 0-for-9 on power-play opportunities, but used 29 saves from Rinne to defeat the Jets 3-0 on Oct. 11 in Nashville.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Jets 3