Despite losing in overtime, The Nashville Predators clinched a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs at home Tuesday in their game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Ryan O'Reilly, Tommy Novak, and Spencer Stastney all scored for Nashville while Juuse Saros made 18 saves in the loss. The Predators have lost three of their last four games and with three games left in hand, they look to increase their points and move up in their division.
Tommy Novak gave Nashville a 1-0 lead on a Jets turnover in the neutral zone. Novak took to the net on Hellebuyck and managed to score while being taken down by Jets defensemen Dylan DeMelo.
Winnipeg answered back with a power-play goal from Gabriel Vilardi, scoring a between-the-legs goal out in front of the net for his 20th of the season. The Jets eventually took the lead on a goal from Mark Scheifele, putting the puck home on the backhand. This was Scheifele's second point of the night and 24th goal of the season.
Dylan Demelo made it a two-goal game, giving the Jets a 3-1 lead with a snap shot from the slot. Nashville would be down by two at the end of one heading into the middle frame.
The 2nd period saw no teams coming up with goals. However, Nashville outshot Winnipeg 22-5 in that period but failed to capitalize as both teams would be scoreless in the period heading into the intermission.
The Predators managed to cut the lead to one on a goal from Spencer Stastney. Ryan O'Reilly tied the game almost two minutes later with a wrist shot from the slot to send the game into overtime.
Kyle Connor would score the game winning goal 1:52 into overtime on a pass from Mark Scheifele on a 2-on-1 rush for the 4-3 final.
The Predators look to recover from their OT loss at home when they head to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Blackhawks Friday. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. CT.
