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The Winnipeg Jets' impressive start to the season hit a bump on Saturday night, falling 4-1 to the Nashville Predators and losing defenceman Dylan Samberg to a broken foot.
Samberg blocked a slap shot from Steven Stamkos in the second period and will return to Winnipeg for further evaluation.
"He’s got a broken foot, so it’s not good,” coach Scott Arniel told reporters after the game. “We’re gonna send him home tomorrow when we get to (Minneapolis) and get it looked at when he gets home.”
The game was the second in two nights for the Jets and was tightly contested until the third period. The Predators opened the scoring in the first, but Jets captain Adam Lowry evened things up in the second.
Despite being tied 1-1 heading into the third, the Jets struggled defensively without Samberg, allowing two quick goals in under two minutes.
Goaltender Eric Comrie stopped 32 of 36 shots, including all 18 he faced in the second period, but the Jets were outshot 36-24. Comrie’s record falls to 3-2 on the season.
This marks the Jets' first loss to a Central Division opponent this year, dropping their record to 17-4-0.
They remain atop the division with 34 points, but their next challenge comes quickly as they face the second-place Minnesota Wild on Monday night in the midpoint of their six-game road trip. The Wild trail the Jets by four points in the standings.