Predators look to avoid penalties in Game 4 against Jets

WINNIPEG -- The Nashville Predators said they need to stay calm and out of the penalty box when they play the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round at Bell MTS Place on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS).

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Because they didn't do those things Tuesday in a 7-4 loss in Game 3, which they led 3-0 in the first period, the Predators trail the best-of-7 series 2-1.
Leading to Nashville's downfall was the four penalties it took in the third period, including three after it tied the game 4-4. The most crucial penalty was a high-sticking minor by defenseman P.K. Subban at 14:01 that led to Blake Wheeler's game-winning power-play goal one minute later.
Predators captain Roman Josi said the key to keeping the Jets power play, which is 2-for-9 in the series, off the ice is keeping emotions in check.
"There's a lot on the line and you can't have your frustration get in the way of that," Josi said after an optional skate Wednesday. "Like I said, their power play is extremely dangerous. You just can't do it. You've just got to stay calm. There's a lot of emotions on both sides, you've just got to be smart about it."

Penalties have been an issue all season for Nashville, which has been shorthanded 29 times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, tied for third most in the NHL, and a League-leading 299 times in the regular season.
"I promise you, whether we talk about it today, talked about it yesterday, this is not the first conversation we've had with our team," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "Last night we put ourselves in the situation where we worked to tie the game, we got it to 4-4, and from then on consistently went to the box and ultimately gave one up. It took away from our chances of intimately trying to tie things up. Those conversations are ongoing."
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm said the Predators, who lost Game 3 of the first round on the road against the Colorado Avalanche, were staying positive.
"We had this kind of day in Colorado too. We lost the first game in their barn. Sun came up today again, so I think the mood was great," Ekholm said. "We got together, we chatted it out, and we've got to learn from our mistakes that we had last night. But other than that, there was times where we had positives that we can take away as well, so for now, we're just trying to regroup and look forward to tomorrow."
Forward Ryan Johansen said the Predators need to use the experience they gained in last season's run to the Stanley Cup Final.
"There's nothing we haven't seen now," Johansen said. "Our focus is just one winning that next game, and then it's a best-of-3 with two games in our building. We have a great opportunity tomorrow to win a huge hockey game.
"We need to come out with a great start again, and just play better with the lead."