Jets penalty kill perfect, but Predators prevail in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -For the second straight game, the Winnipeg Jets penalty kill was perfect. Although on Thursday night in Nashville, it wasn't enough to come out with a win, as the Jets were shut out 3-0 in the first of four meetings between the two clubs.
The Jets (2-2-0) killed off nine shorthanded situations - including eight in a row - with the majority coming in an emotion-filled second period.
But the Predators offence took advantage of three Jets miscues at even strength, and that was all they needed.
"It was as good a night of penalty killing as we've ever had. They were outstanding," said head coach Paul Maurice.
"You're going to have games and nights where you don't agree with the way it went, and you still have to find a way. I thought we did a lot of really good things to do that. Stay in the fight, stay in the battle."

There were chances for the visitors to beat Pekka Rinne. Adam Lowry had a shorthanded breakaway in the first - similar to the one he cashed in on in St. Louis earlier this season. Dustin Byfuglien was also in alone, but was turned away.
"If it goes in, it's definitely a different game. Even when we were in the box I never felt we were ever really out of it," said Byfuglien. "Even at the end, it's a couple bounces and a couple shots and we're right back in it. That's hockey. That's the game. All we can do is move on."
After a scoreless first period, the Predators (3-1-0) took advantage of the first Jets mistake.
Ben Chiarot's cross-ice pass was picked off by Nashville's Ryan Hartman, who broke in on Connor Hellebuyck with Byfuglien in pursuit. Byfuglien made stick-on-stick contact, but it wasn't enough, as Hartman's quick backhand beat Hellebuyck to put the home side up 1-0.
"We just got ourselves into trouble," said Byfuglien. "We tried digging out of it, but we couldn't. That's just how it goes. Every team is going to go through it at some point during the season. Tonight was our night.
"It's never easy. It's something that we can't let sit with us. We have to just move on, and look ahead to our next game and get ready for that."

After that, the emotions boiled over.
The Jets killed off a Blake Wheeler roughing penalty and a Nikolaj Ehlers interference minor shortly after the goal, and less than a minute after that second kill, the gloves came off.
Wheeler was tied up with Mattias Ekholm, Ehlers with Colton Sissons, while others on the ice found a partner - but unlike the first two duos, the gloves stayed on in those altercations.
The minor penalties continued in the second, with Byfuglien and Trouba getting additional minors later in the period, followed by a Tyler Myers 10-minute misconduct.
But the Jets penalty kill handled every challenge, and through 40 minutes, had killed off eight consecutive penalties.
"It's a one-goal game going into the third," said Wheeler. "The two goals in the third, we hemmed them in their zone, have great shifts, and just breakdowns to odd man rushes, to goals. We have to clean that up."

Hellebuyck was the Jets best penalty killer, making 11 of his 27 saves with the Jets shorthanded.
"He's been great for us back there. When it comes to penalty killing, he has to be our best penalty killer," said Byfuglien. "The guys that go out there that go out there and kill for us every single night and do the job, it's not an easy job. Everyone that kills, tip their hats to them, they had their work boots on today."
Winnipeg was unable to cash in on a power play to open the third period, and before the midway mark of the final frame, the Predators would extend their lead.
Roman Josi followed up a rush, and after Byfuglien broke up the initial two-on-one, Ryan Ellis fed Josi in the slot for a one-timer that got by Hellebuyck.
Ryan Johansen would increase the lead to three when he tucked a backhand top corner on Hellebuyck with 5:18 left in regulation for his first of the season.
"I loved our first (period). I thought we were outstanding in the first. It's hard to critique the second other than the penalty killing was fantastic," said Maurice. "We got behind it a bit and had to open the game up a little more than we want to pushing for it, but lots of real good."
The Jets now head home for a six-game home stand that begins on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes.