Predators return home two games down in Western Conference Semifinals with 5-3 loss to Phoenix

With Nashville’s 5-3 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday night, the Predators are down 2-0 in their Western Conference Semifinal series. For the second game in a row, Phoenix opened scoring. At 8:32 into the first period, former Columbus Blue Jacket, Antoine Vermette beat Pekka Rinne for his fifth goal of the postseason. The Predators were able to even up the score when Kevin Klein’s pass found Andrei Kostitsyn who walked in all alone on Mike Smith, beating the Coyotes netminder with just 2:47 left to play in the opening frame. With 6 of their first 7 playoff contests going to overtime this postseason, Phoenix was able to break away from their opponent for only the second time during the playoffs. Scoring three second-period goals, the Coyotes were able to put Nashville away before the puck dropped on the final frame. The Phoenix “prime line” of Martin Hanzal, Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata took over, scoring two goals in the first 7:05 of the middle frame, making it 3-1 Coyotes. ...