In Tempe, the visiting Nashville Predators picked up a big two points on Sunday when they scored three times in the third period to break open a 3-2 lead, and send them to a 6-2 win over the Coyotes.
Roman Josi hit for a double in the win.
Matt Duchene kicked in a goal and three points in the Preds win.
“That [win] was huge. We’re still fighting here. We still believe that we can make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs,” Duchene said. “Hopefully we don’t lose many more guys.”
Juuse Saros made 25 saves in the Nashville win.
“A big thing we talked about is just trying to make sure that we can control we can control,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “You can’t do anything about the decisions that get made, but what we can do is try to have a strong focus level.”
The Predators moved to 29-22-6 off their third straight win.
The Coyotes hit first at 54:55 of the opening frame for a 1-0 lad off a goal from Shayne Gostisbehere.
“We said it before the game, we’ve got to get pucks behind them,” Gostisbehere said. “I think we did it for some points in that game, but we’ve got to stick with it for a full 60 [minutes].”
The Coyotes dropped to 20-30-9.
The Predators went 2-for-3 on the power play on the night, Arizona was scoreless in five chances.
“We had a tough time creating [offense], had a tough time getting inside, and our power play didn’t create enough,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “The special teams made a difference.”
Yakov Trenin tied the 1-1, at 9:02, and Duchene put the Preds ahead, 5-1.
Josi scored the first of his double in the middle frame for a 3-1 lead.
Arizona replied with a goal from Nick Schmaltz at 7:27 to make it 3-2 headed to the third.
In the third, Tommy Novak started the Predators’ outburst when he scored to make it 4-2.
“I’m playing more, getting more puck touches,” Novak said. “My confidence keeps going up … and we’re finishing right now.”
Josi hit for his double off the power play, Cody Glass scored for the 6-2 final.
Nashville played shorthanded with players being traded and protected by potential trades.
Nino Niederreiter was traded over the weekend, and Tanner Jeannot was held out of the lineup, and then traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday.
“It’s been a really tough last 24 hours plus, that’s for sure,” Duchene said. “The win feels good, but I don’t remember playing a game with my heart in my throat quite like that.”
Connor Ingram made 28 saves in the Coyotes loss.
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