Connor steps up for Jets against Predators in Game 5

NASHVILLE -- Kyle Connor had been quiet in the first nine Stanley Cup Playoff games of his career.
But in Game 5, the Winnipeg Jets forward made a lot of noise, getting two goals and an assist in a 6-2 win against the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference Second Round at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

The Jets lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 and would advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time with a Game 6 win at home Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS).
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In the first round against the Minnesota Wild, Connor had two assists in five games, and until Saturday, had one assist (in Game 1) against the Predators, which resulted in Jets coach Paul Maurice moving him to a line with Paul Stastny and Patrik Laine, and Nikolaj Ehlers replacing him on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.
But Maurice went back to his original combinations for Game 5, and Connor, Scheifele (one goal, one assist) and Wheeler (three assists) combined for eight points.
"Yeah we played together for pretty much the whole year and just (used to) certain reads and defensive zone," Connor said. "And offensively, you kind of create that chemistry throughout the whole year. I guess it's a little easier to read off each other.
"The bottom line is team success, winning. If you score as a line, it's just as good. If the team is winning, everybody's happy."

Connor's production was no surprise to his linemates.
"He's got a ton of confidence in himself," Wheeler said. "He's scored goals his whole life. Good for him. He's a young player used to putting the puck in the net and when it doesn't happen right away in your first taste of playoff action, it can be tough to stay with it. His confidence hasn't wavered a bit.
"Tonight it was his turn."
Connor's confidence was evident on Scheifele's goal that gave the Jets a 5-2 lead early in the third.

On a 2-on-2 rush, Scheifele gave Connor a drop pass just inside the blue line, and he put the puck between his legs and skated around Predators forward Ryan Johansen before passing back to Scheifele in the slot for a one-timer.
"That pass and that move was pretty special and shows just how talented a player he is," Scheifele said.
Connor, 21, led all NHL rookies in goals in the regular season (31) and finished fifth on Winnipeg with 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) in 76 games.
He reached that form in Game 5.
"He's had his chances," Scheifele said. "He's been around the puck. He's been making good plays all over the ice. It's awesome to see him continue to battle, especially tonight in a big game like that, to come back and have some big goals. And it wasn't just the goals. He was on the puck and he was working hard defensively and I'm definitely happy for him."