Predators 5, Coyotes 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Taking advantage of loose play by Arizona Coyotes defensemen, the Nashville Predators rallied with four third period goals Tuesday night for a 5-2 win at Bridgestone Arena.
In winning for just the second time in seven games, Nashville (13-7-4) capitalized on giveaways in Arizona's defensive zone. Center Mike Ribeiro notched the equalizing goal at 2:33 after a bad pass by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, burying his slot shot for his third goal.
Left winger Filip Forsberg produced the game-winner at 4:49, stealing a pass by Nicklas Grossmann and ripping a 30-foot wrister by goalie Mike Smith. Forsberg's initial shot struck Smith's mask, but Forsberg reclaimed the puck and skated unfettered between the faceoff circles.
Forsberg added insurance at 17:01 with a one-timer off Ribeiro's cross-ice pass, capping a 3-on-1 rush. Right winger James Neal tacked on an empty-net tally at 19:10.
It was the first time in 11 games that the Coyotes (13-10-1) lost when carrying a lead into the third period, but it couldn't be blamed on Smith (10-6-1). He came up with 36 saves as the Predators dominated the shot chart 41-15, not counting the four posts they hit.
Goalie Pekka Rinne (11-5-4) was required to make only 13 saves in breaking a personal four-game losing streak.
Arizona generated the game's first goal 11 seconds into its second power play. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson whipped a wrister past Rinne at 17:20 of the first period for his sixth goal of the season.
Nashville answered on its second power play at 12:32 of the second period when center Calle Jarnkrok tipped a centering pass by defenseman Shea Weber through the legs of Smith for his fifth goal.
Fourth-line scoring put the Coyotes ahead for the second time at 17:09 when center Kyle Chipchura squeezed a backhander between Rinne and the goal post for his third goal. At that point, Arizona had been outshot 27-9.
NOTES: Arizona RW Shane Doan and RW Steve Downie (upper-body injuries) missed their fourth and ninth consecutive games, respectively. ... Nashville recalled C Cody Bass from Milwaukee of the AHL, where he amassed four assists and 45 penalty minutes in 19 games. Bass has two goals and three assists in 49 NHL games with Ottawa and Columbus. ... The Coyotes scratched LW John Scott and D Stefan Elliott. ... The Predators scratched LW Colin Wilson, who has just one goal in 23 games, and D Anthony Bitetto.