Phoenix Coyotes rebound shutting out Nashville Predators 1-0 -NHL Playoffs Update
Just when Nashville Predators were on the verge of a comeback, Phoenix Coyotes’ Mike Smith blocked all 25 shots on net to shut them out 1-0 and putting Predators on the verge of elimination after Game 4 of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup
Western Conference Playoff Semi-Finals on Friday, May 4, 2012, at the sold-out Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee.
Phoenix had a commanding 2-0 lead in the series heading into Nashville for Game 3 but Predators showed their wild side by rebounding with a 2-0 victory. Coyotes knew that the tables would turn against them if they returned home levelled 2-2, but captain
Shane Doan had other ideas.
"We talked about how they were going to push hard tonight and we had to be better," Doan said. "We were better for the most part. There were a couple times where they pushed back, but we were better overall. We were OK last game, but OK doesn't win in the
playoffs and we knew had to find a way to win."
"To win like this is exciting because our goaltender's so good, and we know that we go as far as he takes us," Doan added. "He's been unbelievable in this and really solidifies how important he is and how good he is."
It was captain, Shane Doan, who potted the only shot of the night for his third of the season as the Phoenix player fought through traffic on a pass from Mikkel Boedker, snapping it past Pekka Rinne with less than six minutes remaining on the clock.
Nashville head coach, Barry Trotz, decided to keep top forwards, Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn out of the line-up for yet another game after their one-game suspension from the team.
Seeing how Predators won Game 3 without them, Trotz was firm on keeping them out for good but now, as Nashville faced a disappointing shutout loss and could be eliminated come Game 5, having them back has become rather a need than a want.
"Plain and simple, we've got to win a hockey game," Trotz said.
Game 5 will be back at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday, May 7.
Tags: