The Winnipeg Jets will look to halt their four-game losing streak while the Predators will aim to make it three wins in a row on Saturday evening in their matchup in Nashville, Tenn.
It will be the second meeting of the season between the two Central Division rivals, with the Jets having taken the first game 4-1 in the second week of the NHL schedule.
A lot has changed since then, though. Jets coach Scott Arniel didn’t mince words about where his team stands following a crushing 5-1 road loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
“The first period we had a lot of guys who forgot to show up for the start of the game,” said Arniel, who didn’t hesitate to call out his group when asked about his team’s overall effort in the defeat. “We’re a veteran group. When we’re already having a tough go here, we’ve lost a few games now in a row. To come out, to start the game that way … part of your profession is being prepared for games.
“I guess I’ve got to do a little more screaming a little bit longer (and) harder to find a way to get these guys ready to play.”
It was another missed opportunity despite Winnipeg’s lethargic start. The score was 1-1 past the midway point of the third period before Carolina’s offense broke through. For a Jets team that has won only three of its last 11 games, it feels like even more air is leaking out of the tires.
“Those are the games we want to win, so it’s disappointing we couldn’t find a way,” Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said on Friday. “Best part of the NHL is we have a game tomorrow and a chance to right the ship here.”
Nashville enters Saturday’s game on the strength of back-to-back wins, doubling the Red Wings 6-3 on Wednesday in Detroit before edging the Blackhawks 4-3 in Chicago on Friday night.
Predators coach Andrew Brunette said he hopes the mini-run can help build confidence within his group.
“Obviously, we’re not where we want to be right now, and we’re looking for something to grab onto and build off of,” Brunette said following Friday’s game. “We got ourselves a big win, and they’ve been hard to come to in so many of these games … a one-goal game going into the third period, and we’ve ended up on the wrong end, and it was nice to end up in the right end.”
With his team attempting to find small increments of growth, Nashville’s coach insists the Predators shouldn’t be judged solely by their position in the standings, where they sit at the bottom of the NHL.
“Winning hasn’t been easy,” Brunette said. “I don’t think we’re what our record says we are completely. … We want to move forward and play a big game again tomorrow night.”
On the injury front, Arniel confirmed that defenseman Neal Pionk (lower body) will not play Saturday. Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault did not play Friday due to a lower-body injury. Both are considered day-to-day.
