Playoff pushes between two teams on the outskirts of the final wildcard spots are intense, but when they face each other in what could make or break either teams’ season, that’s a different intensity.

The Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators faced off in a game that could either set one team back more points, or strengthen their positioning as they hunt down that wildcard spot.

It was a slow start for the Jets, but they made no issue of recovering to get themselves in the game.

Nashville got the opening goal on the power play, but that celebration was short lived as Winnipeg ramped up their game in search of their first goal.

Erik Haula got in front of Connor Hellebuyck with a screen and tipped in Roman Josi’s shot from the point to put Nashville up 1-0. The Jets responded with some fiery shifts and good scoring chances, but it took them continued pressure to finally crack Juuse Saros.

40 seconds left in the first period, Gabriel Vilardi dropped a nice pass to Josh Morrissey, who had enough time and space to pick off a nice wrist shot to end the first frame tied up at 1-1.

This goal sparked energy into the building, but it was only the appetizer of what was ahead.

Winnipeg got another power play chance in the second period, and they wasted no time capitalizing on the chance presented to them, scoring 10 seconds into the power play.

Vilardi notched his 26th of the season with his netfront presence, picking up a rebound on Cole Perfetti’s initial drive to the net. Right on the doorstep of Juuse Saros, Vilardi was able to find success on the Jets’ power play to put them up 2-1.

Five minutes later, the party was spoiled as Filip Forsberg made his mark on the game, scoring a nice one-timer goal off Jonathan Marchessault’s pass. Forsberg beat Hellebuyck top shelf, and he tied the game up 2-2 in the process, and ultimately changed the trajectory of the game.

Winnipeg had a comfortable 26-15 shot advantage heading into the third period, and they showed that they were the better team, despite the slower start to the game.

Both teams were held off the scoresheet throughout the first half of the third period, but as Nashville got braver at driving the net, their chances of scoring got better in the process.

Matthew Wood drove Hellebuyck’s crease and caused chaos in the play leading up to his goal, but his ability to get into the dirty areas won him pucks all night long and gave Nashville another edge.

Wood got a clean shot high on Hellebuyck, and the Predators regained the lead in the game. Winnipeg, down 3-2 with just under six minutes left to play, needed to find an answer, and they needed to find it fast.

Pressure mounted throughout the next few minutes, but when Winnipeg pulled Hellebuyck with just two minutes left in the game, one had to wonder if the Jets had given themselves enough time to score with a six-on-five advantage.

Hockey stories write themselves, and Jonathan Toews’ comeback was impressive enough, but getting to score a big goal in his hometown was the cherry on top for Toews’ season in Winnipeg.

Finding the right positioning on the ice to get into the shooting lane from Mark Scheifele’s pass gave Winnipeg hope with exactly one minute left to play as Toews tied it 3-3.

Neither team solved each other in that dying minute, and overtime provided multiple good opportunities both ways, but the theatrics weren’t enough, and overtime didn’t provide any answers.

The shootout went a quick one-two-three for both teams, and Ryan O’Reilly grabbed an extra point for Nashville to solidify their standings and push for a wildcard spot.

The outta town scoreboard held, and Winnipeg, despite losing in a shootout, only remain four points out of a wildcard spot. Nashville, on the other hand, got themselves within two points of that playoff spot in the 4-3 shootout win over Winnipeg.

Wildcard spots over the next few weeks are the storylines to track, and Winnipeg is one of those few teams still showing that fight. The Jets hit the road to face the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, and both teams will renew their rivalry as the stretch run of the season starts to take shape.

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