Saros stops 36, helps Predators recover for shootout win against Jets

WINNIPEG -- Juuse Saros made 36 saves before stopping all three attempts he faced in the shootout for the Nashville Predators, who recovered for a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday.

“I thought he was really good,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “Obviously, he's good every night. I thought both goalies were good. I know the shots were maybe a little over exaggerated a bit, but I thought both goalies made saves and I thought we had some really good looks too.”

Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist, Matthew Wood and Erik Haula each scored, and Jonathan Marchessault had two assists for the Predators (30-28-9), who have points in three of four (2-1-1) and finished their five game road trip 2-2-1.

“With us giving up a late goal, we came back in overtime. We didn't pull our heads down — we played even better," Brunette said. "So, credit to the group. They stuck together and they rose up to the challenges. And obviously, (Saros) making the saves in the shootout, and factor in a beautiful goal (from Ryan O'Reilly in the shootout).”

Kyle Connor had three assists, Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist, and Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves for the Jets (28-28-11), who’ve lost three of five (2-2-1), but have points in eight of their past 11 (6-3-2).

“We had 70 to 80 shot attempts. Their goaltender was outstanding,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “In that second period, some shots he (Saros) didn’t see. We hit a couple of crossbars and posts, and missed the net a few times. We had tons of opportunities and Saros made some big stops.”

Haula made it 1-0 Predators at 13:02 of the first period, tipping Roman Josi’s point shot as he screened Hellebuyck on the power play.

“Last game of a road trip and it's a big one for us, and fun,” Wood said. “Those games are fun to play in, close games, meaningful games. So it was fun to come out with the two points.”

Josh Morrissey tied it 1-1 at 19:20. After Morrissey chipped it deep into the Nashville zone, Vilardi pulled it off the end boards and found Morrissey alone in the slot.

Vilardi made it 2-1 Jets at 5:09 of the second period, when Connor backhanded a pass in front, Cole Perfetti got a shot off, and Vilardi banged in the rebound on the power play.

“We had a lot of shots, we had a lot of opportunities to score,” Vilardi said. “I thought we did a good job with our O-zone play, getting pucks to the 'D.' Guys were moving, (we) had a guy in front a lot of the time.”

Forsberg tied it 2-2 at 10:48, firing a sharp-angle one-timer from the bottom of the left circle just under the crossbar.

“I'm proud of the group, it was a tough game,” Brunette said. “They’re a desperate team. We're a desperate team. I thought it was a good hockey game. I thought we handled the momentum swings really good, even from a little bit of the second period where they pushed.”

Wood made it 3-2 Predators at 14:01 of the third period, pulling the puck away from Morrissey and lifting it over Hellebuyck’s glove from below the right dot.

“It was a great play by (Forsberg and Marchessault),” Wood said. “I was just kind of able to put it in. It was a big win for the team.”

Forsberg said: “I think (Wood) has been playing with a lot of confidence up the middle. He’s using his size and his speed up the middle, gets a little bit more involved, I think. And great shot (on his goal), obviously. It’s the stuff that we see in practice all the time. So, it's been fun watching him.”

Jonathan Toews tied it 3-3 at 18:59 with Hellebuyck pulled for the extra attacker. Mark Scheifele set Toews up at the edge of the slot and he scored with a snap shot.

“It’s nice to score in a situation like that,” Toews said. “Going down the stretch, you’re going to be in some tight games, so it’s nice to have some confidence when you go out there, whether it’s a power play or a six-man unit to score one late and get back in a game like that.”

Brunette said: “It felt a little bit (like) the playoff-type game where both teams are pushing. It was a seesaw battle, back and forth. They pushed really hard there in the second period where they got us on our heels a little bit. And we're able to manage the storm — got out of the waters and were able to get into a little flat water a little bit there in the third.”

NOTES: O’Reilly scored his 16th career shootout-deciding goal, tying both Phil Kessel and Alex Ovechkin for 10th most in NHL history. … Wood has five goals in his past six games. He became the third-fastest skater (62 games) to score their first 15 NHL goals with Nashville, following Tanner Jeannot (48) and Forsberg (52). … Connor recorded his 55th career three-point game, passing both Ilya Kovalchuk and Blake Wheeler for the second most in Jets/Thrashers history, behind only Scheifele (80).