Jets 5, Predators 2: Winnipeg Got Its Road Reset
For a team that admitted it was playing “a little fragile,” the Winnipeg Jets couldn’t have asked for a better start. Winnipeg snapped its four-game losing streak with a 5–2 win in Nashville. The game’s result was built on urgency, smart puck support, and, finally, timely scoring, which they lacked over the last two weeks.
What stood out was how quickly the Jets settled in. Gabriel Vilardi’s opening goal — inside the first minute — felt like a release valve. And from there, Winnipeg didn’t retreat into the hesitant, overthinking version of itself that had defined its losing skid. They played downhill, kept pressure on the Predators’ back end, and showed the finishing touch that’s been missing.
Eric Comrie didn’t need to steal the game, but he was composed and reliable. He gave the Jets enough stability to build and protect a lead. On a long road trip where momentum matters, this was the kind of game that helps a group breathe again.
Key Point One: The Jets’ Niederreiter Set the Tone
Nino Niederreiter didn’t just score twice; he gave the Jets some swagger back. His first goal, a sharp wrist shot late in the opening period, capped off a composed first frame and helped Winnipeg play from ahead for the first time in a while. His empty-netter was the exclamation point, but the bigger story was his voice afterward. He acknowledged the fragility, but also the importance of regaining momentum.
Key Point Two: The Jets’ Depth and Details Return
The Jets weren’t relying solely on Mark Scheifele or Kyle Connor to drag them through. Vilardi chipped in with a goal and an assist. Cole Perfetti buried a clean one-timer off a clever sequence behind the net. Dylan Samberg had one of his best nights of the season with three assists. Luke Schenn added two assists and provided the kind of steady, simple touches Winnipeg needs when it’s trying to stabilize.
When the Jets spread out their offense like this, they look like a team capable of controlling games rather than chasing them.
Key Point Three: The Jets Were Able to Respond After Nashville’s Push
Nashville made it 3–2 early in the third and had the building buzzing. In past weeks, that might have been the moment Winnipeg cracked. Instead, Connor’s redirection — created off a Schenn point shot — ended the Predators’ surge and restored control. It was the game’s most important shift, and the Jets handled it like a team refusing to slide back into old habits.
Final Thoughts from the Jets’ Perspective
It’s one win, as Niederreiter said — but an important one. Winnipeg defended more tightly, finished their chances, and stayed composed when Nashville pushed back. On a long road trip, these are the games that reset a season.
If the Jets can build from this instead of letting it sit on its own island, this might be the night the skid truly ended.