Hartman's late goal gets Predators past Jets

WINNIPEG -- Ryan Hartman scored the game-winner with 1:00 remaining in the third period in his debut with the Nashville Predators in a 6-5 victory against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place on Tuesday.
Hartman, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, redirected Roman Josi's pass from the left face-off circle.
Josi had five assists, tying a Predators record for most points in a game.

"I didn't really have to do much for it, Josi put that right on my tape," Hartman said. "I saw that seam, obviously he saw that seam, and I just pretty much put my knee on my stick there to make sure I didn't get lifted under my stick. But he put that right on my tape."
WATCH: [All Predators vs. Jets highlights]
The Predators (39-14-9, 87 points) moved four points ahead of the Jets (37-17-9, 83 points) for first place in the Central Division. Nashville has won five straight games.
Nashville trailed 5-3 in the third period after Paul Stastny scored in his debut with the Jets at 10:00.

"It's a whirlwind for me," said Stastny, who was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Monday. "There was a couple big momentum changes. It's cliché, but that next shift really does mean a lot. A couple times after we scored a big goal, they came back and scored right away."
Craig Smith scored his second of the game at 10:57 to make it 5-4, and Ryan Johansen tied it three minutes later at 13:57.
Kyle Turris and Mattias Ekholm also scored for the Predators, and Pekka Rinne made 34 saves.
"The response once we went down two goals to get it back right away, I thought was really important," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "That put life back on the bench."

Mark Scheifele had two goals, and Matt Hendricks and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 32 shots.
"When you get up in a game, you have to continue to play the same way," Scheifele said. "You can't sit back, especially against a team with the skill that they have and the work ethic they have. It's a matter of fixing a few things."
Hendricks made it 1-0 at 2:45 of the second period on a wrist shot from the slot.
Smith tied the game at 8:55 when he scored on a rebound after an initial shot by Josi.
Scheifele restored the lead for the Jets when he tapped in a pass from Jack Roslovic at 12:41 to make it 2-1.
Scheifele got his second of the game to make it 3-1 on the power play, one-timer after centering a pass from Stastny at 14:23.

"Get up by two, they score two quick, we score a couple … it was just kind of a roller-coaster ride all night," said Jets forward Blake Wheeler, who extended his point streak to nine games (four goals, 11 assists). "Some chances on both sides that didn't go in, some chances that did go in. I think it was not what we expected out of the game, but one that we would have liked to finish off."
Turris pulled the Predators to 3-2 at 15:07 of the second. Viktor Arvidsson led a rush and his shot was stopped, but Turris scored on the rebound. Winnipeg challenged offside on the play, but the goal stood.
Ekholm scored on a wrist shot from the point to tie the game 3-3 at 17:06.
Ehlers scored his 25th to make it 4-3 at 17:39 of the second period.

Goal of the game

Hartman's goal at 19:00 of the third period.

Save of the game

Rinne's pad save against Ehlers at 19:51 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Johansen's goal at 13:57 of the third period.

They said it

"He was great. I thought even before he scored that goal, he was really good. He was hard on the forecheck. He made a lot of good plays, had a lot of shots. I thought he played great and obviously, he topped it off with the game-winner." -- Predators defenseman Roman Josi on forward Ryan Hartman
"I thought he was great; I thought that line was really good. Moved the puck well; they seemed to read off each other well. To come in after what he's been through in the last 48 hours and play the way he did … unreal on draws; a goal and an assist - what more can you ask for?"-- Jets forward Blake Wheeler on forward Paul Stastny

Need to know

David Poile of the Predators tied the record for wins by an NHL general manager (1,319). Poile, who has been the GM of the Predators since their inaugural season in 1998-99, tied Glen Sather (Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers) for the most in NHL history. ... Marek Zidlicky, Dan Hamhuis and J-P Dumont were the other Predators who had five points in one game. Josi has 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in a five-game point streak. … Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom, who did not play, is day to day with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Joe Morrow, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, took Enstrom's place.

What's next

Predators: At the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
Jets:Host the Detroit Red Wings on Fridays (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, FS-D+, NHL.TV)