NHL Update: Phoenix Coyotes edge past Nashville Predators, 3-2
Ilya Bryzgalov turned away 30 shots, as Phoenix Coyotes rallied to defeat Nashville Predators, 3-2, at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night.
Taylor Pyatt and Lauri Korpikoski both lit the lamp for Phoenix, which knotted its season-high with its seventh consecutive win. Keith Yandle also tallied a goal in the win.
"We played a solid road game. We made too many mistakes tonight. I would like to see us take a few less penalties, but other than that, we were pretty solid in a lot of areas. Got some timely scoring and managed to win another close one," said Phoenix head
Coach Dave Tippett.
Shea Weber and Sergei Kostitsyn both found the net for Nashville, which had won three of four coming into the game. Pekka Rinne stopped 23 shots in the losing effort.
After a scoreless opening stanza, Coyotes’ captain Shane Doan got a penalty shot 10 seconds into the second period when he was dragged down from behind by Alexander Sulzer just inside the Nashville blue line.
On the penalty shot, Doan deked a slap shot and then attempted to chip the disc between Rinne’s legs, but Steven Finn wasted the effort with a stick save.
"He's so good. It's intimidating when you are coming in on him and he is as confident as he is," Doan said. "I tried to go five-hole. I tried to get him to freeze for a sec."
Yandle got Phoenix on the board for 1-0 lead nearly four minutes into the middle session, as his shot from the left point made its way through traffic into the net.
"I was trying to get it by the first guy, maybe have a screen or a guy there to tip it," Yandle said. "I don't think he saw it. Obviously, if you can't see it, you can't save it."
Less than a minute later, Coyotes notched a two-goal edge, 2-0, when Pyatt gathered the puck at the right boards, then rushed to the side of the net and ripped a high shot over Rinne for his 15th goal of the season.
Predators cut the deficit in half, 2-1, two minutes later on a power play when Kostitsyn grabbed a bouncing puck and blasted a one-timer home from the slot.
Korpikoski restored Coyotes two-goal advantage, 3-1, just 7 ½ minutes into the final frame, as his snap shot from the left circle sailed past goalie.
Nashville almost crept within another goal with 7 ½ minutes left in the game, but it was waived off as Shane O'Brien was whistled for high sticking.
However, Nashville managed to make it a 3-2 game with 49 seconds remaining on a delayed penalty call to Coyotes, as Weber let go a one-timer from the left point to beat Bryzgalov, but Predators failed to pull an equalizer.
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