WINNIPEG, MB. – In all likelihood, Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers had his best game of the season on Tuesday night. It could not have come at better time.

Ehlers scored two goals, his 16th and 17th of the campaign, while Brandon Tanev scored the winner at 18:34 of the third period, as they led the Jets to a thrilling 6-4 win over the high-flying Nashville Predators.

It was the Jets second straight win. Winnipeg played a superb game on Sunday at Bell MTS Place to beat the St. Louis Blues 4-0. However, Tuesday night’s victory was even more impressive. It came on the road against a team that was 6-0-1 in its last seven and 16-2-2 in its last 20. The Preds were also the first place team in the Central Division.

However, with the win on Tuesday, the Jets are now 20-10-5 and trail first-place Nashville and St. Louis (tied in points) by just two points. They are also six points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, the first Wild Card team in the West.

Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves to get the win and is now 18-4-4 on the season with a 2.50 goals against average and .918 save percentage. He had a couple of shaky moments, but down the stretch, when the Jets needed a couple of big saves, Hellebuyck stood tall.

Besides Ehlers, the Jets got goals from Adam Lowry (6), Patrik Laine (17), Brandon Tanev (3) and an empty netter from captain Blake Wheeler (9). Tanev’s goal was the winner. With the score tied 4-4, he swept down the left wing and fooled Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne through the five-hole with a minute and 26 seconds remaining.

It was a terrific hockey game. Plenty of back-and-forth action and lots of exciting rushes. The Jets outshot Nashville 36-34 as the Jets opened a three-game road swing.

The Jets will now head to Boston for a game against the Bruins on Thursday night at 6 p.m. CDT on TSN 3.

Scott Taylor for The Manitoba Post

Photo by James Carey Lauder