Wheeler's five points lead Jets over Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Blake Wheeler scored two goals and assisted on three others to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists and Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for Winnipeg, which has won two of its last three. Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves and Josh Morrissey had two assists.

“For us to be successful, you need your best players,” Winnipeg interim coach Dave Lowry said. “They stayed with the game. We got down early and we didn’t waver. We bent and I really liked the resiliency and I really liked the fact that our top guys dug in and really found a way to win.”

Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene scored, and Juuse Saros made 38 saves for Nashville, which has lost three of four.

With the game tied at two goals apiece midway through the third period, Nashville defenseman Mark Borowiecki was assessed a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct after he came into contact with the head of Winnipeg’s Evgeny Svechnikov.

“The challenge right now is obviously the penalties, and it’s something that particularly the last two games, it certainly cost us games,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “I think that’s the challenge for the players. It’s also the challenge for the coaches. This isn’t something that can continue to move forward and go the way it is.”

Wheeler and Dubois scored on the ensuing power play to earn the win.

“I think we went out there with a lot confidence knowing that was the hockey game,” Wheeler said. “We had to bury one. Regardless of the scenario, you get five minutes on the power play with the game on the line, you want to make it count.”

Granlund scored the game’s first goal at 3:26 of the opening