Preds’ Hartnell hoping to ‘stir the pot’ if called upon in Game 6 against Jets

WINNIPEG — Scott Hartnell says there’s “no secret” to what he will try to bring if called upon with his Nashville Predators facing elimination against the Winnipeg Jets.

The veteran forward listed off the usual things an energy player hopes to add — be hard on the forecheck, responsible in his own end, chip in offensively — before mentioning what could be the biggest reason he will find himself in the lineup for Game 6 at a raucous Bell MTS Place.

“And just stir the pot a little bit, too,” Hartnell said.

Judging by head coach Peter Laviolette’s setup at today’s morning skate, Hartnell looks primed to draw back in on Nashville’s fourth line with Mike Fisher and Calle Jarnkrok after sitting out the Predators’ 6-2 loss on home ice in Game 5.

That stirring of the pot is something Hartnell’s been known for throughout his career, and arguably the most important element he has to offer with the Predators down 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinal.

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In his first action of the series in Game 4 — which Nashville won 2-1 in Winnipeg — the 36-year-old went after Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien early on, wrestling with the 260-pound blue liner in the corner.

Byfuglien had dominated his team’s 7-4 victory in Game 3, but had his quietest night of the series.

Their history goes back a long way, including the 2010 Stanley Cup final when Hartnell was with the Philadelphia Flyers and Byfuglien was with the Chicago Blackhawks.

“You need one person to drag everybody into the fight,” Hartnell said. “I’ve been able to be physical my whole career, mostly injury free, and for me it’s being good with the puck, not turning it over, getting pucks deep, getting on them, and just create things and just being a pest.

“They’re a disciplined team. They’re not going to take penalties on us, but we just want to be disturbing, be a pest and get all over them and hopefully our line can chip in for a couple tonight.”

Hartnell has 19 goals and 28 assists in 97 career playoff games, and grabbed 24 points (13 goals and 11 assists) in 62 regular-season outings in 2017-18.

Speaking in general terms, Laviolette said Hartnell’s style and experience comes in handy in an elimination game like the one the Predators are set to face.

“He’s a veteran player capable of scoring a goal,” Laviolette said. “(He’s) able to handle a situation like this.”

Jarnkrok, who sat out the last three games, also looks set to return. He missed the end of the regular season with an upper-body injury, but finished with 16 goals and 19 assists in 68 games.

“He’s one of those players that you really have to coach to appreciate,” Laviolette said. “He’s quietly effective offensively, he’s extremely effective defensively.”

On the Winnipeg side, centre Bryan Little didn’t take part in the morning skate, but head coach Paul Maurice didn’t seem concerned about his availability for Game 6.

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Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press