Nashville Predators avoid disaster with 5-4 SO win over Phoenix Coyotes - NHL Update
Nashville Predators gave up a two-goal advantage but still managed to win the game in the shootout with 5-4 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday, March 12, 2012 at the Jobing.com Arena.
The win keeps the Predators right on the heels on Central Division rivals Detroit Red Wings in the race for fourth in the Western Conference.
The win keeps Nashville just two points behind Detroit as they lie fifth in the conference with 89 points.
It could have turned out so much different for the Predators as they blew a 4-2 lead in the third period to end the regulation period tied at 4-4 and with the game moving to a shootout the Coyotes could have managed one of the most improbable comebacks of
the season.
However, Nashville survived as goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped all Coyotes shots on his goal and helped the Predators win their third straight game.
Rinne said after the game.
"It was a little disappointing to give up the two late goals, but we managed to get two points and that's the important thing. It may not be so good when a team comes from behind like that, but with the win, you feel fine."
For Phoenix it was another disappointing result as they continue their slide down the Western Conference.
The Coyotes had for a while managed to secure third spot in the conference as they lost just a single game last month however, March has become a nightmare for Phoenix as they won just a single game out of seven played.
With another defeat after doing so well to come back Phoenix have dropped down to seventh in the conference with 79 points and remain just two-points ahead from ninth.
Coach Dave Tippet had disappointment etched on his face as he tried to get to grips with another defeat.
"At this point in the season, you take every point you can. We had to rally because we made poor mistakes. These are mistakes which cannot happen at this time of the year."
Nashville took the lead in the final minute of the first period through Martin Erat, however, the Coyotes pegged back the Predators right after the start of the second period as Daymond Langkow equalised after just 49-seconds from the restart.
The Predators regained their advantage at 11:04 with Mike Fisher getting on the score sheet but the back and forth continued as Phoenix once again equalised after three minutes through Keith Yandle.
Francis Bouillon scored his first goal of the season as the rookie put Nashville ahead for the third time at 18:26.
Craig Smith made it 4-2 at 2:36.
It seemed that the Predators had found the winner but Phoenix responded with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Raffi Torres putting the game level.
With no goals in overtime the game went to a shootout and Andrei Kostitsyn’s goal on Mike Smith turned out to be the Predators winner.
Nashville will now look to make it four wins in a row on Thursday against San Jose Sharks while Phoenix will hope to get their season back on track on Wednesday against Vancouver Canucks.
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