An offensive second period powered the Arizona Coyotes to an 8-4 win in Tempe, Ariz., on Thursday night, snapping Nashville’s franchise-record 18-game point streak.
Nick Bjugstad scored the eventual winning goal for Arizona at the 12:36 mark of the second period, while the Coyotes used a four-goal second period to push them to victory, aided by empty-net goals from Matias Maccelli and Logan Cooley in the final frame. Cooley’s completed the first hat trick of his career.
Clayton Keller finished with a goal and three assists for Arizona, while Nick Schmaltz and Jack McBain also contributed goals.
Nashville’s Jason Zucker, who was traded from the Coyotes to the Predators on March 8 in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick, scored twice in the opening 5:11 for his new team, beating Connor Ingram on his first two shots back at Mullett Arena to give the Predators the early advantage, before their collapse.
Gustav Nyquist also notched his 21st goal of the season at the 11:08 mark of the second period on the power play, bringing Nashville as close as it would get (behind 4-3).
After trailing by a pair within the opening moments, Arizona stormed back to end the first period. After McBain scored at the eight-minute mark, Cooley tied the contest with his first marker, driving to slide the puck into the net after Lawson Crouse launched him on goal with three minutes left in the period.
Arizona took a 3-2 lead on a swift three-man exchange that finished with Keller’s 31st goal of the season 7:11 into the second.
The Predators cut into Arizona’s lead late in the third period, with Filip Forsberg scoring his 41st of the season on the power play at 16:40, but he couldn’t beat Ingram further. The Arizona netminder finished with 33 saves.
In Nashville’s crease, starter Juuse Saros lasted just two periods, stopping 21 of 27 shots, before making way for Kevin Lankinen, who pushed aside all 11 shots he faced in the final frame.
Arizona, which is already eliminated from playoff contention, won for the fifth time in its last seven games.
–Field Level Media
