Saros stops 23, Predators end Jets’ franchise-record winning streak at 11

NASHVILLE -- The Winnipeg Jets had their franchise-record winning streak end at 11 games with a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

The Jets (42-15-3) had not lost since Jan. 20 against the Utah Hockey Club.

“Focus on whoever is coming in next at home and be better and make the adjustments we can,” Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor said. “But you can’t dwell on it. Yeah, it was obviously a pretty fun streak to be a part of and obviously historic for this franchise. It was cool to look back on, but you’ve got to move on.

“You’ve got to be ready. You’ve got to adapt. You’ve got to be able to fight what’s next.”

Juuse Saros made 23 saves, and Filip Forsberg and Tommy Novak scored for the Predators (21-30-7), who had lost two straight.

“I really think the [penalty kill] and the saves [Saros] made, you could almost see it kind of rise him up a little bit,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “Then he was amazing, I thought, after that. He just shut it down, and that’s the [Saros] that we’re kind of used to seeing. So hopefully he’s feeling good about himself, and he takes that and brings it into the next one.”

Neal Pionk scored, and Eric Comrie made 28 saves for the Jets, who were coming off a 4-1 win at the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

“[Saros] played really well,” Pionk said. “I mean let’s give them credit too, they played pretty good as a team too. You run into a good goalie and don’t fire on special teams -- that’s a bad recipe.”

Forsberg gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 4:26 of the first period on a wrist shot off a feed from Gustav Nyquist following a face-off win by Ryan O'Reilly.

“I think that’s what it’s going to have to be,” Forsberg said of his team’s effort level. “Efforts like this. Guys putting their body on the line, whatever it takes. I think that’s something that we want to start doing, keep building that part of it. And you never know, we’ve been on runs before and certainly want to get on one again.”

Pionk tied it 1-1 at 11:05 on a one-timer from the point off a pass from Rasmus Kupari.

“Same thing we’ve been doing all year, win or loss,” Connor said. “Take what we can and learn from it. If there’s anything we can, we’re going to talk about it. The way the season is going, we’ve got to focus on the next opponent.”

Novak’s power-play goal put the Predators back ahead 2-1 at 15:29 on a backhand pass from Justin Barron.

Winnipeg had 1:54 of a 5-on-3 power play in the second period but was unable to convert.

“Special teams can be the difference in the game, and it certainly was tonight,” Pionk said. “That’s not to say [Comrie] didn’t give us a chance because he made a lot of really good saves on the penalty kill. We did give up the one and then didn’t score on the power play, and that’s the difference.”

Predators defenseman Roman Josi did not play because of an upper-body injury.

“That’s how it’s going to be,” Nyquist said. “It’s going to have to be like that. We’ve obviously got some guys out. We’ll see how long here, but big opportunities for other guys stepping in. We know the position we’re in, but at the same time we’ve got to have pride here and finish the season off strong.”

NOTES: Winnipeg’s 11-game run is the longest winning streak Nashville has ever halted, besting an eight-game run by the Red Wings in 2005-06. … Predators forward Steven Stamkos has not recorded a point in 11 consecutive games -- the longest such streak of his NHL career. … Predators forward Mark Jankowski has missed the past two games because of an upper-body injury. He participated in an optional morning skate on Thursday.