Arizona Coyotes win Game 4 in overtime to eliminate Predators
The Predators struck late in regulation to keep their season alive, but the Arizona Coyotes scored in overtime to win the series.
For the second game in a row, the Nashville Predators came out hot, firing 10 of the first 11 shots on goal in the game, earning a power play, and spending quite a bit of time in the Arizona Coyotes zone.
Also for the second consecutive game, Arizona was able to weather the storm behind a tremendous effort by goaltender Darcy Kuemper. That led to a 1-0 lead at the end of the period thanks to a perfectly placed shot by Michael Grabner.
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The Predators carried much of the first-period play, as they outshot the Coyotes 15-8 and blocked nine shots. Arizona, however, was opportunistic, registering six takeaways in addition to the lone goal of the period.
The second period got off to a much different start as shots were about even and the teams traded goals in the first five minutes. The first came from Phil Kessel, and the second was scored by Matt Duchene on the power play.
Four minutes after the Predators got on the board, Viktor Arvidsson tied the game at two with his third goal of the series. The pace of the period remained fast following the equalizer, but the goaltenders settled in and prevented any further goals.
It wasn’t until the third period that Jordan Oesterle scored to give the Coyotes the 3-2 advantage. For much of the period it appeared as though that lead would be enough to send Arizona to the next round, but with 30 seconds left and the goalie pulled, Filip Forsberg fired home Nashville’s third goal of the contest to send Game 4 to overtime.
In overtime, the Predators brought some early pressure, but just like in the first period, it was the Coyotes that got the goal. Brad Richardson put home a rebound on the doorstep, and propelled Arizona to its first series victory since 2012.
Both teams had missed opportunities in the game, as the Predators were thwarted on multiple occasions by goal posts, and the Coyotes were stopped on a pair of third period breakaways. In the end, it was once again the Darcy Kuemper show, as he stopped 49 of 52 shots to clinch the series win for his team.
Play-in Round Predictions. dark. Next
Arizona will await the conclusions of the round robin play and the remaining qualifying series to determine their next opponent, though it will be either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Colorado Avalanche. For the Predators, a short offseason will feel very long.