Tanev, Jets end Predators three-game winning streak

NASHVILLE --Brandon Tanev scored with 1:26 remaining in the third period to give the Winnipeg Jets a 6-4 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
Tanev cut around Predators defenseman Roman Josi and beat goaltender Pekka Rinne to give the Jets a 5-4 lead with his third goal. Blake Wheeler scored into an empty net with two seconds left to make it 6-4.

\[WATCH: All Jets vs. Predators highlights\]
"I came down and I kind of felt [Rinne] might have thought I was going to go around the net and hit one of our late players," Tanev said. "Just put the puck to the net and was fortunate to slide through there."
Nikolaj Ehlers scored two goals, and Adam Lowry and Patrik Laine scored one each for the Jets (20-10-5), who have won two consecutive games and moved within one point of the Predators and St. Louis Blues for first place in the Central Division. Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves.

"They require you to play a pretty good game," Wheeler said. "I think that's probably the best team we've played this year. Their back end is so elusive. A big part of our game is forechecking, and between Rinne and their back end, it's just tough to get on pucks."
Calle Jarnkrok, Kevin Fiala, P.K. Subban and Yannick Weber scored for the Predators (21-8-4), who had their three-game winning streak stopped. Rinne made 30 saves.

"I thought we just played OK tonight," Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. "Especially the first two [periods]. It wasn't bad, but we didn't play the way we wanted to, I think. Against a good team like that, it's not enough. I thought we played pretty well in the third and had a lot of chances."
Weber scored his first goal of the season to tie the game 4-4 30 seconds into the third period from the left face-off circle.
Ehlers gave the Jets a 4-3 lead at 16:00 of the second period on a rebound on the power play. It was his second goal of the game and 17th of the season.
"We played the way we wanted to," Ehlers said. "We played hard. We played fast. We knew how they were going to play and got pucks to the net. We played a really good game."
Lowry gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 8:05 of the first period on a rebound in the crease. The original shot came from Tyler Myers, and Lowry scored his sixth goal.

Jarnkrok tied the game 1-1 at 19:19 with his eighth goal.
Fiala gave the Predators a 2-1 lead 21 seconds later on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle. His ninth goal extended his point streak to eight games.
Laine tied it 2-2 at 6:54 of the second period on a wrist shot for his 17th goal.
Subban gave the Predators a 3-2 lead at 7:55 with a slap shot from the point on the power play. It was his seventh goal.

Ehlers tied the game 3-3 30 seconds later on a rebound from the slot.
"It always feels good scoring," Ehlers said. "I wasn't too happy with my first period, and I think changing the lines gave me a little boost. And I just said 'You know what, just go out there and play the game. Simple. Hard.' And it worked."

Goal of the game

Tanev's goal at 18:34 of the third period.

Save of the game

Hellebuyck's save on Fiala at 8:50 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Laine's goal at 6:54 of the second period.

They said it

"This is a huge win. Just gutted it out. There were mistakes made on both parts and [we] just kind of kept fighting through everything. They got off to a good start in the third period and scored a goal in the first shift. You've got to realize that they're going to take over the game a little bit there, and I thought we were poised. We did enough to give ourselves an opportunity there, and an unsung hero steps up and makes a huge play. That one feels pretty good." -- Jets forward Blake Wheeler
"We gave them a couple too many odd-man rushes, especially in the second period. They had the lead going into the third, and we knew we'd have to make a push. We know how they play. They've got a lot of good forwards with a lot of speed, so you've got to make sure you keep them in front of you." -- Predators defenseman Roman Josi

#

Need to know

Myers had three assists. … Predators forward Kyle Turris had his seven-game point streak stopped. … Nashville was 6-0-1 in its past seven games and had not lost in regulation since Nov. 30, 5-3 to the Vancouver Canucks.

What's next

Jets:At the Boston Bruins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TSN3, NESN, NHL.TV)
Predators: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-TN, NHL.TV)