Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators Recap
The Nashville Predators defeated the Arizona Coyotes in a shootout 4-3 Tuesday night. The Coyotes picked up a point in the standings but fell to 2-2-1. Nashville remains undefeated in regulation at 4-0-2.
Despite the loss, the Coyotes played a pretty solid game in all areas. They were able to sustain offensive zone pressure regularly, the defense was fairly solid limiting the turnovers and goaltending was spectacular. First periods have been an issue this year, but tonight would be a different story. The Coyotes broke their recent trend of playing from behind by scoring the game’s first goal in the first period.
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Rob Klinkhammer scored the first goal on a 2 on 1 with an assist from David Moss. Shortly after, the game would be tied with a goal from none other than former Coyote, Mike Ribeiro. The first period would end in a 1-1 tie. If there was a low point for the Coyotes, it was the second period. They took penalties and were on their heels a bit from the pressure by Nashville. Ryan Ellis scored just as a Nashville power play expired. Playing in his 500th NHL game, Keith Yandle tied the game up at two only seconds into a Coyotes power play. Former Predator Martin Erat would give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead in the third. Only, 21 seconds later, James Neal would tie the game up at 3. In the shootout, Rinne stopped 3 out of 4 shots and Dubnyk stopped 2 out of 4. Derek Roy and Ryan Ellis scored in the shootout for Nashville and Antoine Vermette scored for Arizona.
Devan Dubnyk got the start in net tonight. The score may not suggest it, but he stood on his head. Dubnyk came up big for the Coyotes making very difficult saves and keeping his team in the game. Both goalies were on their game tonight. Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne would not be out done though. He came up just as big for his team as Dubnyk did.
The Coyotes may have lost, but the team certainly played better tonight. It was Pekke Rinne that stood in the way of a win tonight. If they can manage to continue playing the way they did tonight, they will definitely star winning more games.
Game Notes:
- Keith Yandle played his 500th NHL game tonight.
- Martin Hanzal did not play due to a lower body injury.
- Devan Dubnyk got the start over a struggling Mike Smith.
- Tonight was the first road game on the 2014-15 season for Arizona.
- Klinkhammer’s goal in the 1st period was the first time Arizona has scored first this season.
Goals:
Coyotes:
- Klinkhammer (2)
- Yandle (1)
- Erat (2)
Predators:
- Ribeiro (3)
- Ellis (1)
- Neal (2)
Shootout:
- Vermette – AZ
- Roy – NSH
- Ellis – NSH
Three Stars Of The Game:
- Ellis
- Ribeiro
- Yandle