Stastny scores twice, Jets hold off Predators 6-4
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - Paul Stastny scored twice and the short-handed Winnipeg Jets held off the Nashville Predators 6-4 on Saturday night.
Rookie forward Kristian Vesalainen got his first NHL goal for Winnipeg. Kyle Connor, Pierre Luc-Dubois and Adam Lowry also scored for the Jets, who played without No. 1 center Mark Scheifele and captain Blake Wheeler for the second consecutive game. Both are in COVID-19 protocol.
Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves in the win.
Colton Sissons, Nick Cousins, Philip Tomasino and defenseman Roman Josi scored for Nashville.
Just 26 seconds after Josi pulled the Predators to 4-3 at 3:10 of the third period, Stastny scored his second of the game when he deflected Neal Pionk's point shot past goalie Juuse Saros, who stopped 23 shots.
Connor increased the lead to 6-3 on a power play. Tomasino scored with the man advantage with 6:19 left. Cousins and Trevor Novak assisted.
Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
With Saros pulled, the Predators stormed the Winnipeg net, but they couldn't get any closer.
Winnipeg improved to 2-2-1 with its second straight win. The Predators fell to 1-4-0.
It was the Predators´ only visit to Winnipeg this season.
Vesalainen scored with 10 seconds left in the second period to give the Jets a 4-2 lead. He deflected Nate Schmidt's point shot past Saros. Dubois also assisted.
Nashville pulled to 3-2 on a second-period power play. Cousins backhanded a shot past Hellebuyck on a scramble in front. Novak and Tomasino assisted.
Winnipeg took a 3-1 lead with two goals 1:23 apart early in the second. First, Dubois deflected a point shot by Schmidt past Saros at 1:11. Then, Stastny pounced on Connor's rebound and fired it into the net for a power-play goal.
Earlier, Lowry knotted the score at 1 when he was sent in alone by defenseman Dylan DeMelo. Lowry slid a backhand underneath Saros at 2:42 of the first period.
The Predators struck first 75 seconds in. Sissons, unchecked on the open side of the Jets net, converted a pass from forward Tanner Jeannot, and Hellebuyck had no chance.
UP NEXT
Predators: At the Minnesota Wild on Sunday in the Predators' first back-to-back of the season.
Jets: At the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday to start a three-game trip. It will be the third meeting between the teams in a six-game span for Winnipeg.
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Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) scores against Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) during the first period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against Nashville Predators' Mikael Granlund (64) during the first period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Logan Stanley (64) collides with Nashville Predators' Eeli Tolvanen (28) during the first period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Jansen Harkins (12) tries to get the puck in front of Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) and Ben Harpur (17) during the second period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Kristian Vesalainen (93) and Neal Pionk (4) battle with Nashville Predators' Philippe Myers (55) and Yakov Trenin (13) during the second period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) watches the puck as Nashville Predators' Mikael Granlund (64) reaches for it during the second period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) gets past Nashville Predators' Colton Sissons (10) and Dante Fabbro (57) during the second period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Neal Pionk (4) falls on Nashville Predators' Nick Cousins (21) during the second period of NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
