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Coyotes-Predators Preview
Phoenix Coyotes at Nashville Predators
- Phoenix defeated Colorado, 3-2, in overtime on Monday and is now 4-1-0 in its last five skates overall (2-4-2 in first eight games of 2012-13). The Coyotes are 6-0-1 when allowing two or fewer goals this season.
- The Predators beat the Sharks, 1-0, in overtime on Tuesday and are now 5-1-1 in their last seven games overall. Nashville has played seven OT/shootout games in 2012-13 -- most of any team in the league.
- The Coyotes shut out the Preds, 4-0, in these two clubs' first meeting of the season on January 28. Dating to January 24, 2008, Phoenix and Nashville have met 20 times and each team has won 10 of those contests.
- Including the game-winner, Shane Doan had two goals and an assist in the Coyotes' victory Monday, garnering first-star accolades for his performance. Doan has four points (2g, 2a) during his current 3-game scoring streak vs. the Preds at Bridgestone Arena.
- Colin Wilson netted the lone goal of the game in Tuesday's win and now has seven points (3g, 4a) in his last six games (one point -- a goal -- in his first seven games of 2012-13). Wilson has four points (1g, 3a) in 11 career skates vs. the Coyotes.
- Former Nashville skater, Steve Sullivan had 100 goals in 5+ seasons as a Predator -- fourth most in franchise history. Sullivan has eight points (2g, 6a) in his last six games vs. Nashville.
(AP) -- The Nashville Predators finally ended the worst stretch of offensive futility in club history, but now they'll likely have to face the goaltender that helped knock them out of the playoffs last year.
The Predators should get their first look at Mike Smith since the postseason when they host the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.
Nashville (6-3-4) endured a goal drought of 176 minutes, 18 seconds before Colin Wilson scored in overtime for a 1-0 victory over San Jose on Tuesday. Wilson's team-high fourth goal was the Predators' first since Paul Gaustad scored in the first period of a 2-1 overtime loss at Minnesota on Saturday.
"I mean obviously we want to score but we're just preaching put the puck on the net," defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "I think we've been outshot a lot in the early stretch here."
Smith posted a 1.73 goals-against average to help Phoenix (6-5-2) eliminate Nashville in five games in the Western Conference semifinals last year. He missed the Coyotes' 4-0 home victory over the Predators on Jan. 28 with a lower-body injury, with fill-in Chad Johnson making 21 saves in his Phoenix debut for his first career shutout.
Smith is healthy now and has recorded a 2.06 GAA while starting the Coyotes' last six games, with victories in the first two of this three-game trip. He made a season-high 41 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory over Colorado on Monday.
"Smitty was unbelievable," captain Shane Doan said. "We all thank Smitty because he was so good tonight."
Doan's second goal came in OT on a three-point night for him after he went seven games without a point. He credited the back-to-back victories to a meeting the Coyotes had with coach Dave Tippett after a 6-2 home defeat to Chicago last Thursday.
"There was a lot to identify so we were able to see, and see all the things that went wrong," Doan said. "And I mean you can start with every guy on the team, particularly some of the leaders and guys like myself, there's a lot of areas to improve and Tipp's been on us and we're not there yet."
Doan's pointless streak began in the first meeting with Nashville. The four goals allowed by Pekka Rinne in that contest are a season high.
Rinne has gone 5-1-0 with a 0.97 GAA since that defeat. He had 25 saves Tuesday for his second shutout in three starts, helping Nashville kill off six penalties - including a 5-on-3 in the second period.
"The penalty kill gave us momentum," coach Barry Trotz said. "They got determined. They sacrificed themselves. They got angry at themselves, and they fixed it. That's the best thing any coach can have when they fix it in their own room."
The Predators are struggling to score without Patric Hornqvist, out with a knee injury. Defenseman Shea Weber was fourth on the team with 49 points a season ago, but he has one this season.
Weber's season output is lower than what Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle produced in last month's meeting. Yandle had a power-play goal and two assists.
Updated February 14, 2013
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