Nashville 2, Phoenix 0
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 10, 2014
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees:
Dave Jackson, Tom Kowal
Linesmen:
Andy McElman, Pierre Racicot
Attendance:
17174
By SportsDirect Inc.
Predators 2, Coyotes 0: Pekka Rinne turned aside 29 shots to register his 32nd career shutout as host Nashville handed Phoenix its sixth consecutive loss (0-3-3) and damaged the Coyotes' playoff hopes.
Craig Smith scored a second-period power-play goal and Patric Hornqvist added an insurance tally midway through the third as the Predators improved to 4-0-1 in their last five games. Rinne made 15 saves in the third period to preserve his second shutout of the season and the sixth of his career against Phoenix - his highest amount against any opponent.
Thomas Greiss, making his eighth straight start, stopped 21 shots in remaining winless since March 27. The loss kept the Coyotes two points behind Dallas for the second wild card in the Western Conference with two games to play.
With a power play winding down midway through the second period, Smith took a pass from defenseman Ryan Ellis at the left point before skating into the faceoff circle and snapping a shot into the top right corner of the net. Phoenix managed only five shots in the middle session, including a drought of more than 17 minutes extending back into the first period.
Nashville doubled the lead at 9:21 of the third, when Mike Fisher sent a pass to a cutting Hornqvist, whose initial attempt was stopped by Greiss before he knocked in the rebound for his 21st goal. The six straight losses are the most for the Coyotes since a seven-game slide (0-5-2) in March 2013.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Hornqvist's goal was his seventh in the last six games. ... Coyotes LW Martin Erat, who spent 11 seasons with the Predators, appeared in his 800th career game. ... Smith's opening tally halted a 13-game goalless drought. ... Phoenix hosts the Stars in the regular-season finale, but it will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Stars beat St. Louis on Friday.
Top Game Performances
| Phoenix |
|
Nashville |
|
N/A |
Points |
Patric Hornqvist 1 |
|
N/A |
Goals |
Patric Hornqvist 1 |
|
N/A |
Assists |
Matt Cullen 1 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Craig Smith 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Thomas Greiss .913 |
Save Percentage |
Pekka Rinne 1.000 |
|
Thomas Greiss 21 |
Saves |
Pekka Rinne 29 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Phoenix
|
29 |
0 |
0-2 |
1-2 |
4 |
30 |
| Nashville
|
23 |
2 |
1-2 |
2-2 |
4 |
36 |
Upcoming Games
-
Nashville will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Predators have a W/L % of .486 after a win and .422 after a loss.
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against San Jose. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .432 after a win and .465 after a loss.
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