Predators - 6, Coyotes - 2: Roman Josi Scores Twice as Nashville Gets Road Win in Arizona

Roman Josi scored twice and Tommy Novak and Matt Duchene each recorded a goal and two assists in an emotional win over the Arizona Coyotes.

After a tumultuous 24 hours in the Nashville Predators franchise that included trading second leading goal scorer Nino Niederreiter and the announcement that General Manager David Poile will be retiring effective June 30 and replaced by Barry Trotz, the Predators took the ice to focus on the game against the Arizona Coyotes. 

Tonight the Predators lineup looked different than it has in recent games. Not only did the team lose Niederreiter, but young forward Jusso Pârssinen was out tonight due to an upper body injury. The Predators recalled Zach Sanford four Milwaukee, and right as the puck dropped it was announced that Tanner Jeannot was being held out for "trade related reasons".  With the Jeannot news, the Predators were forced to skate with just ten forwards tonight. Nashville did welcome back defenseman Alexandre Carrier who hasn't played since being injured January 24 in the game against the Winnipeg Jets. 

The 20-29-9 Arizona Coyotes entered the game going 5-1-4 in their last ten games including a February 24th 4-2 win over Nashville at Bridgestone Arena. Clayton Keller leads the Coyotes in goals with 24 and has recorded seven points in his last five games. Nick Schmaltz and Lawson Crouse have been playing well for Arizona, and former Predators goaltender Connor Ingram got the start in net for the Coyotes.

Both teams generated offensive chances early but both Saros and Ingram held their ground under the early pressure. Nashville got their first opportunity on the power play as Tommy Novak drew a tripping call at 5:19. It was however Shayne Gostisbehere who scored shorthanded for Arizona on a two on one break at 5:55. The power play expired with Nashville unable to answer back with the man advantage. 

 A quick transition in the neutral zone led to a shot by Phil Tomasino and a goal off the skate of Yakov Trenin at 9:02 to tie the game. A well placed pass from Carrier in the defensive zone found a streaking Matt Duchene. Duchene and Glass executed a flawless give and go, and Duchene buried the puck at 13:48 to give Nashville their first lead of the game. 

At 18:03 Colton Sissons headed to the penalty box for a high sticking call giving the Coyotes their first chance on the power play. A little over a minute into the penalty, Cole Smith joined Sissons in the box for a holding call, and Arizona played with a two man advantage. The period expired before the Coyotes could capitalize, and the teams headed to the locker rooms with Nashville up 2-1. 

The second period began with Nashville killing off the remaining :03 seconds of the 5 on 3. Sissons came out of the box and helped the Predators kill off the rest of Smith's infraction, and the teams returned to full strength. 

Roman Josi slipped into the high slot to score on Ingram at 2:39 to extend Nashville's lead to two. The Predators peppered the net with a handful of high danger chances after the goal, but Ingram was able to keep the puck out. The Coyotes caught Nashville in a line change and Nick Schmaltz scored on Saros at 7:27 to bring Arizona back within one goal. 

The goal gave Arizona momentum and they pinned Nashville in the defensive zone while the Coyotes pressured. Alexandre Carrier headed to the penalty box at 13:09 for a hooking call, and Arizona went back on the power play. The Predators were able to kill off the penalty and maintain their lead. Nashville didn't record a shot on net in the second half of the period, but they headed into the second intermission up 3-2. 

Arizona began the final period where they left off in the second - pressuring offensively. Nashville finally ended their shot slump after a net front scrum in front of Connor Ingram and Tommy Ingram tapped the puck in the net at 3:28. 

The Predators went back on the power play after a tripping call at 5:17. Roman Josi's point shot slid past Connor Ingram at 6:02 putting Nashville up 5-2. A board battle resulted in a penalty on Mattias Ekholm for crosschecking at 8:57 and gave Arizona an opportunity on the power play. Nashville was able to kill off the two minutes, and the teams returned to five a side. 

At 15:32 Arizona got another chance on the man advantage as Phil Tomasino headed to the penalty box for a tripping infraction. :50 seconds into the power play, an interference call on the Coyotes resulted in four on four play for 1:10. Tomasino came out of the box giving Nashville the brief power play, and Cody Glass scored from the left circle. 

The Nashville Predators closed out an emotional night with their second 6-2 win of this road trip. They return home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night. 

1. It was an emotional night for Nashville. Big changes are coming for the Predators organization. Not only was there an major announcement about the general manager position, but right after warmups Tanner Jeannot was pulled off the ice for trade related reasons. The team was able to put that off ice uncertainty behind them and play a solid game. 

2. Tommy Novak is an NHL player. Novak, who has played in the AHL since 2018 is proving he is ready for the big stage. Tonight he scored a goal and recorded two assists, and the 25 year old has ten points in his last five games. 

3. It's good to have Alexandre Carrier back. The defenseman missed ten games after an injury in late January. Carrier and Ekholm are a strong defensive pair, and if they both remain in gold past Friday's trade deadline, they will be an important part of the Predators defense during the upcoming transitions.