Nashville @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 1, 2019 ) Nashville 3, Winnipeg 5

The Nashville Predators have earned seven points in their past four games to keep pace in the Central Division, and they have a chance to move into a first-place tie Saturday when they visit the division-leading Winnipeg Jets. Defenseman Ryan Ellis scored the game-tying goal late in the third period of Thursday’s 2-1 shootout loss to Pittsburgh, giving Nashville a critical point and pulling the Predators within two points of the Jets entering Saturday’s matchup.

“It was good to get the point,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told the media after his team's three-game winning streak was snapped. “I wish we had the puck a little bit more in overtime.” The Jets also saw a winning streak end Thursday, their four-game run halted in a 5-0 loss at Vegas as Winnipeg looked like a team playing for the third time in four days. “It was one of those games where it wasn’t our best game by any means,” Winnipeg forward Bryan Little told reporters after the Jets generated just 20 shots on goal - only 10 in the final two periods. The Jets have won two of the first three matchups with Nashville this season, including a 5-3 home victory on March 1 as center Mark Scheifele finished with a goal and two assists for Winnipeg and Ellis contributed two assists for the Predators.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 360 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (42-27-6): Forward Ryan Johansen leads Nashville in assists (49) and picked up six during a five-game streak that ended Thursday, while Ellis has six points (five assists) in his past nine contests. Goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped 32 shots against the Penguins and has surrendered only two goals across his past three outings, after giving up 17 goals in his previous five games. The Predators are fourth in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.6) but have struggled on the power play all season while ranking 30th out of 31 teams at 12.8 percent.

ABOUT THE JETS (44-26-4): One night after recording their second shutout of the season in a 3-0 triumph at Anaheim, Winnipeg was blanked for the fourth time in 2018-19. Forward Blake Wheeler ranks third in the NHL in assists (68) and has at least one point in 12 of his past 15 games (20 points). Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who came on for the injured Laurent Brossoit in the second period Thursday and stopped 18-of-20 shots, likely will start Saturday against Rinne in a matchup of Vezina Trophy finalists from last season.

OVERTIME

1. Brossoit suffered a lower-body injury against Vegas, and the Jets recalled G Eric Comrie from Manitoba (AHL).

2. Nashville F Austin Watson, suspended by the team since Jan. 29, took part in Thursday’s morning skate as the Predators aim for him to return before the end of the regular season.

3. After Saturday the Jets will have seven games remaining, while Nashville will have six.

PREDICTION: Jets 3, Predators 2