Mike Smith shines as Phoenix Coyotes eliminate Nashville Predators 4-1 -NHL Playoffs Update
Phoenix stayed strong and Mike Smith just played amazingly well as the Coyotes eliminated Nashville Predators, 4-1, in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoff Western Conference Semi-Final series after a 2-1 victory in Game 5 on Monday,
May 7, 2012, at the sold-out Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
With the series back at home, the Coyotes were bound to be playing on top as Smith blocked 32 shots and infuriated Nashville Predators, who were looking to force a Game 6 competition after being shut out at home on Friday.
Nashville Predators just went back to their old ways as they failed to break the semi-final barrier after reaching the milestone for the first time in franchise history just last year.
Phoenix on the other hand, got to the finals for the first time themselves after winning the divisional title in the 2011-2012 NHl regular season.
Predators had the first power play opportunity as Martin Hanzal of Phoenix was booked for roughing Nick Spalin at 17:45 into the opening period but Coyotes knew they could not let their home crowd down so early.
Derek Morris got the first of the night as he beat Nashville’s veteran goalie, Pekka Rinne, with a far out slap shot on an assist from captain, Shane Doan. Martin Hanzal added the game-winner at 15:09 on a snap shot of his own and third of the postseason.
Just when it looked like Phoenix’s Mike Smith would be shutting out Nashville for a second time this series, Colin Wilson fired back for his first goal of the playoffs at 14:01 but failed to add anymore and level the match.
With eight seconds remaining, Mike Smith snapped the puck high up in the air from his own end which nearly went into the Nashville empty net as Predators called Pekka Rinne out for the extra attacker.
Phoenix Coyotes will now be going on to face the rowdy Los Angeles Kings in the battle for Western Conference supremacy, making it an extremely intense series in waiting as both teams have an amazing forward squad and even better goalie playing on each end.
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