The Nashville Predators took the ice at Mullett Arena to take on the Arizona Coyotes for a matinee game. Head coach Andrew Brunette made several adjustments to the lineup for today's Central Division matchup.
Nashville got early momentum as Travis Dermott sat for a hooking penalty at 1:06. The Predators recorded four shots on goal on the power play but couldn't capitalize and the teams returned to even strength. The Predators outshot the Coyotes 8-1 in the first five minutes of play, but it was Clayton Keller who got the first goal of the game scoring a back door goal at 9:52.
Right before scoring the goal, Keller was high sticked by Cole Smith which gave the Coyotes a two minute power play. Nashville's penalty kill was able to hold off Arizona's top ten power play. Just seconds after the teams returned to full strength, Matias Maccelli was whistled for a trip, but the Predators power play units struggled to generate chances.
The period ended with Nashville leading 12-6 in shots on goal but Arizona having the momentum and a 1-0 lead.
Nashville generated early pressure at the start of the second period, but a failure to clear the puck resulted in another cross ice pass to an open Clayton Keller who scored at 1:20 to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.
At 3:19 Luke Evangelista drew a tripping penalty, and Roman Josi scored on the ensuing power play. With that goal, Josi surpassed Shea Weber for most goals by a defenseman in franchise history.
Arizona trapped Nashville in the defensive zone midway through the period and another cross ice play resulted in a goal by Michael Carcone that gave the Coyotes their two goal lead back.
At 14:34 Lawson Crouse headed to the box for a hook on Luke Evangelista and the Predators went to work on the power play. Gus Nyquist and Filip Forsberg each had good looks, but Nashville couldn't convert the chances. Evangelista and Tommy Novak had a two on one breakaway after the power play ended, but Connor Ingram made the save.
A late tripping penalty by Carcone gave the Predators a power play chance with 1:09 left in the second period, Nashville couldn't score before the period ended. The teams headed into the second intermission with :51 remaining on the power play but down 3-1.
The Coyotes were able to kill off the rest of the power play to start the final period. At 3:07 Tyson Barrie headed to the box for a trip. The Coyotes power play buzzed around Saros, but the Predators killed off the penalty.
While Arizona didn't capitalize on the power play, the man advantage gave the Coyotes the momentum. A too many men on the ice whistle interrupted that wing and gave Nashville another power play chance at 8:37. Again, the Predators special teams couldn't capitalize on an important opportunity.
With just over three minutes left, Juuse Saros headed to the bench and the Predators added the extra attacker. With 1:16 remaining, Tommy Novak cleaned up a back door rebound to make it a one goal game. The Predators couldn't get the equalizer before the final buzzer and drop their final road game of this trip by a score of 3-2.
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