Predators Defeat Coyotes 4-3 Via Shootout

The Nashville Predators (4-0-2) welcomed former Predators Martin Erat and Devan Dubnyk and the Arizona Coyotes (2-2-1) to Smashville tonight. Mike Ribeiro, who’s contract was bought out by the Coyotes this summer, also faced-off against his former club tonight for the first time this season. Ribeiro and the Predators would…

The first period got underway and most of the momentum fell in the Coyotes’ favor. Rob Klinkhammer lit the lamp 3:21 into the game to give Arizona a 1-0 lead. The goal came on a two-on-one break for the Coyotes as Dave Moss‘ pass got by a diving Seth Jones and Klinkhammer found himself with virtually half the net open before Pekka Rinne made his reaction to attempt the save.

Eight and a half minutes after the Coyotes found the back of the net, former Coyote Mike Ribeiro found himself with the puck in a four-on-one break for the Predators. Ribeiro passed the puck to Ryan Ellis who was trailing the play who then immediately passed it back to Ribeiro who sent a wrist-shot past Arizona netminder Devan Dubnyk. It was a beauty of a play.

The first period would end the same as it began, with the teams knotted up in a tie. The Predators lead in the shot category 10-8 after the opening period.

Nashville opened up the scoring in the second period. Just after a Predators’ power play opportunity ended, Ryan Ellis found himself with the puck outside of the right hashmark and sent a scorcher of a slap shot to the back of the net to give the Predators a one goal advantage.

Predators’ center Calle Jarnkrok gave Coyotes’ netminder Devan Dubnyk a snow shower trying to beat Dubnyk to a puck with 8:15 left in the period. Jarnkrok was given a un-sportsman like minor penalty and Arizona lit the lamp three-seconds into their power play opportunity making the score 2-2 around the midway point of the middle period. The goal came from Keith Yandle directly from the Coyotes’ face off win.

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The Predators found themselves with four power play opportunities in the second period and couldn’t succeed in putting the puck in the net with the man advantage. The period would end with the two teams tied up at two goals a piece.

Nashville’s power play woes would continue to start the third period as they were unsuccessful after a Sam Gagner tripping penalty two minutes into the final period.

The Coyotes’ power play success however would continue as they would tally their second power play goal of the game courtesy of former  Predator Mary Erat with 9:12 remaining in the third period to give the Coyotes the one goal advantage. This one goal advantage wouldn’t last long for Arizona.

James Neal received a drop-pass from Mike Ribeiro just 21-seconds after the Erat goal and sent a one-timer past Dubnyk to tie the game up yet again. Ryan Ellis was credited with the secondary assist, his third point of the night. This would be the final goal of the period for both teams and the Predators found themselves headed to overtime for their second consecutive game.

The extra period began with the Coyotes on a power play as James Neal took a penalty with 16 seconds remaining in regulation. The penalty wouldn’t hurt the Predators in overtime.

The Predators found themselves with a great chance to end the game as James Neal rushed out of the penalty box and fired a laser of a slap-shot that rung off the post. This would be the best chance Nashville had to win the game in overtime and the game headed into the shootout.

Derek Roy would start things off in the shootout and put on a great move to beat Dubnyk. The next four shooters would miss but Antione Vermette would score for Arizona in the must-score situation to send the shootout to an extra set of shooters. Nashville went with Ryan Ellis and Ellis didn’t disappoint, putting a fantastic, patient move on Dubnyk to light the lamp. This would be the game winner and the Predators improved their record to 4-0-2.

Roll the film:

Predators stats for the night:

Goals: Mike Ribeiro (3), Ryan Ellis (1), James Neal (2).

Assists: Ryan Ellis (3), Derek Roy (4), Seth Jones (2), Mike Ribeiro (2)

Pekka Rinne: 33 saves on 36 shots. .917 save percentage

The Predators next game comes this Thursday night in Nashville as the Chicago Blackhawks come to town.

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