Pekka Rinne, power play, key in Nashville Predators win
Goaltender Pekka Rinne was solid on Tuesday, helping the Nashville Predators defeat the Phoenix Coyotes 3-0.
Rinne stopped 33 shots for his third shutout of the season and the 17th of his career. Rinne however, was quick to give his teammates the praise after a strong performance by
the special teams’ play.
“We had a desperation in our game tonight,” Rinne said. “The penalty killing did a good job. The power play did a good job. All of the areas we have been practising have improved.”
It was an important win for the Predators after losing their last four games. They improved their record to 10-8-5, but still remain last in the Central division with 25 points. The Coyotes
meanwhile, have now dropped their last two games after winning seven straight and sit in second place in the Pacific division with an 11-7-5 record.
The Predators opened the scoring in the first period, after Shea Weber scored his third goal of the season at the 3:36 mark while on the power play. Weber fired a wristshot past Coyotes
goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who dropped his first regulation road loss of the season. The Predators then scored their second power play goal of the game at 12:48 of the second period. With the Coyotes down two men, Cal O’Reilly picked up his fifth goal of the season
after converting a perfect cross-crease pass from Steve Sullivan for an easy tap in.
“We just went through our options,” O’Reilly said. “Sullivan did all the work, and I had an empty net there.”
Predators coach Barry Trotz admitted that goal was the difference maker in the game.
“The 5-on-3 goal can really be a momentum changer, and for us, it really gave us some breathing room,” Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. “I thought Sully made two great passes on the power
play and that’s what clicked tonight.”
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett addressed his team’s penalty woes, citing that was the difference in the game.
“We had some guys really play hard, but in the end, you can’t take penalties like that and expect to be successful,” Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. “That’s something that will be addressed.”
Jordin Tootoo completed the scoring with just 25 seconds left in the game to give the Predators a 3-0 win with his third goal of the season.
Nashville will try to make it two in a row when they travel to Nationwide Arena to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. The Coyotes will next take on the Minnesota Wild at the
Xcel Energy Center hoping to end their two-game skid.