In Glendale Saturday, seven rookies iced for the Arizona Coyotes and that made for a busy night for Mike Smith who had to make 44 saves in backstopping the Coyotes to a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators.
Rookie Brendan Perlini scored his first NHL goal in the win and five of the rookies had 
at least one point.
“A lot of guys stepped up tonight. We stuck to the game plan and played hard,” Perlini said. “That was the most physical game I’ve played in the NHL since coming up, and that’s what we’ve got to do: take time and space away and make it hard on people.”
Rookie Laurent Dauphin scored for Arizona and rookies Lawson Crouse, Tyler Gaudet and Jakob Chychrun had points in the win.
WATCH: All Predators vs. Coyotes highlights
“The way Crouse played tonight, that was a man’s game. That was the best game he’s played in the NHL so far,” Arizona coach Dave Tippett said. “[Nashville] is a high-skill team, and if you let them freewheel, they are tough. We played the game we needed to play.”
Roman Josi was the lone goal scorer for the Preds who fell to 12-11-4.
“We’ve got to play faster and better than what we are doing,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. “As the game wore on, there was probably less quality.”
Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in the loss.
“I told the trainers before the game, ‘I’m getting one tonight.’, Perlini said. “I had some good opportunities the first couple of games, but I got a better one in the slot and luckily buried. I don’t usually celebrate too much but the emotions took over.”
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