Jets rout Predators, grab 3-2 series lead

Kyle Connor scored two goals and had an assist as the Winnipeg Jets beat the host Nashville Predators 6-2 on Saturday, pushing the Presidents’ Trophy winners to the brink of elimination with a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinal.

Now the Jets, who won their first playoff series in the first round, will have a chance to clinch a spot in their first Western Conference final Monday in Game 6 back in Winnipeg.

Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist to back winner Connor Hellebuyck, who had 38 saves.

Paul Stastny and Mathieu Perrault also scored, Blake Wheeler had three assists, and Nikolaj Ehlers added two assists for the Jets, who scored four goals on 14 second-period shots.

■ Capitals 6, Penguins 3—

At Washington, Jakub Vrana scored the go-ahead goal with 4:38 left to back Braden Holtby, who had 35 saves, as Washington took a 3-2 series lead.

Vrana, moved to the Capitals’ top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov in the second period, sprung Kuznetsov for a breakaway on Washington’s tying goal 52 seconds into the third.

The Capitals are one win from advancing to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in the Ovechkin era and overall since 1998, when they reached the Stanley Cup Final.

The NHL told Brad Marchand to stop licking opponents or the top-line left wing will face a fine, a suspension or both.

Marchand licked Tampa Bay right wing Ryan Callahan on the face during Game 4 of their second-round series after appearing to do the same to Toronto center Leo Komarov earlier in the playoffs.

■ Bruins: