NASHVILLE - The Winnipeg Jets aim for a perfect road trip on Sunday when they take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
The Jets (12-5-2) have won each of the first two games on the road trip - a 3-2 overtime decision in Tampa Bay and a 3-0 shutout victory in Florida - and can make it three-for-three with a triumph over the Predators.
Overall, the Jets have won five straight games, but their opponents come in on a roll as well. Nashville has won four straight, including an 8-3 win over Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues.
It's a clash of two teams with a lot of momentum.
"We want to finish off the road trip on the right foot before we head home," said Dylan Samberg. "I feel like both of our teams pride ourselves on defence first. That’s why we get those tight games. Those tight games in the Central are really fun to play in. They’re intense and it’s a good battle. We’re looking forward to it."
In the first meeting of the season between the two clubs, Winnipeg earned a 6-3 victory over the Predators at Canada Life Centre. Overall, the Jets have won six of the past eight match-ups with the Predators and are 4-2-0 in their last six trips to Tennessee.
The 63 goals Nashville has scored this season are the fourth most in the Central, and after putting an eight on the scoreboard against the Blues, head coach Rick Bowness notes there is a lot of confidence on the offensive side of the puck for the Predators right now.
"They’ll send two guys out of the zone in a hurry, they’ll fly looking for breakaways and odd-man rushes. They’ve been doing that," said Bowness. "They’re like we are, very confident in their game right now. They’re getting the big saves when they need it, the timely goals when they need it. It should be a very entertaining hockey game tonight."
One of the stats that stood out from the first of four tilts between Nashville and Winnipeg as Samberg's nine blocked shots. There was a shift in the third period, with the Predators pressing to cut into the Winnipeg lead, where Samberg had three blocks - including two on Nashville's leading scorer, Filip Forsberg.
"(I'm) all healed up," Samberg grinned after this morning's skate. "It’s part of the game. If it happens again, it happens again. They’re a really good, hard forechecking team. So are we. Always looking for a good battle."
And it's that battle that stood out to Bowness in Florida as well. Not just from Samberg, but the whole team.
"The X and O’s are a big part of it, absolutely. They don’t fall into place unless you have a strong will," Bowness said. "I really liked the will from everybody, committed to that team play. When you do that, you’re going to keep the chances against down and spend less time in your zone. We did all those things."
Overall, the Jets are 5-1-0 against the Central Division this season. If they want to put another tick in the win column, they'll have to display the same characteristics in their game as they've shown on each stop on this road trip, and throughout the five-game win streak.
"We put in a really good solid defensive effort in and got rewarded for it," said Samberg. "Especially in that Florida game. I felt like we put a good three periods together and those were the best three periods - I feel like - we’ve put together all season.
"We’re both playing really good hockey right now. I’m excited for tonight."
LINE RUSHES
Once again, Brenden Dillon is a game-time decision after not taking the morning skate. He stayed off the ice ahead of the game against the Panthers, but was a full participant later that night, playing 14:48 with two shots on goal and a fight late in the game.
Without Dillon on the ice, the line rushes looked like this, with Laurent Brossoit getting his second start against Nashville this season:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Gustafsson-Jonsson-Fjallby
Morrissey-DeMelo
Stanley-Pionk
Samberg-Schmidt
NOT QUITE VILARDI TIME
For the second straight game day, Gabriel Vilardi took part in the morning skate in a regular jersey after ditching the non-contact one earlier this week. Still, he won't play tonight against Nashville.
"We’re going to try and get him in a brace tomorrow and see if he’s ready to go on Tuesday," said Bowness. "That will be a morning skate decision."
