That’s more like it! The series between the Nashville Predators and the Winnipeg Jets is the only series this year featuring two Vezina Trophy finalists. However both Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck have had sub-par numbers Rinne in particular who up to this point had a .890 SV% and a 3.90 GAA which are numbers you’d be hard pressed to find in your average backup goaltender. Game four however had only three total goals between the men between the pipes which is more akin to what we’d expect from two goalies up for the leagues best of the year.
As a result of the goaltending on display there is precious few moments to talk about. Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey was very close to opening the score on a open net, but Rinne managed to make a spectacular (albeit very lucky) save with the butt end of his stick. This allowed Nashville to break the ice with a wicked wrister by Ryan Hartman beating Hellebuyck over the shoulder for the 1-0 Preds lead.
The next Preds goal would come in the second period off a bomb from P.K. Subban. His one-timer from the point would beat a screened Hellebuyck under the arm making it 2-0 Nashville. Jets winger Patrik Laine would break Rinne’s shutout with under a minute to go, but the Preds would hold on to win 2-1 in Winnipeg. The Jets out shot the Preds 33-29 but would ultimately lose the game and will go into game five tied 2-2. This is the first low scoring affair between the two teams in not just the playoffs but the regular season as well. This could be attributed to better discipline leading to less powerplays, and therefore less grade A scoring chances. Game five will be Saturday May 5th in Nashville where the series tie will be broken once again, but who will break the deadlock?
