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HomeSportsNashville Predators frustrated by Arizona Coyotes 2-1

Nashville Predators frustrated by Arizona Coyotes 2-1

Nashville PredatorsClarksville, TN – The Nashville Predators concluded their five game road trip with a frustrating battle against the Arizona Coyotes and their goalie, Darcy Kuemper, who blocked 45 of 46 shots he faced tonight.

Taking the ice with the news that two of their stars would be sidelined, the Predators played “shuffle the lines” tonight to try and find a combination without Viktor Arvidsson and P.K Subban.  

Arvidsson will be out 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb and Subban will be sidelined for at least seven days with an undisclosed injury.  Speculation is that it’s the mandated concussion protocol, but no confirmation from the team.

Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) is greeted by center Ryan Johansen (92) as the Predators face the Arizona Coyotes. ( Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports)
Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) is greeted by center Ryan Johansen (92) as the Predators face the Arizona Coyotes. ( Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports)

Nashville dominated every statistical category in this game tonight, outshooting the Coyotes 46-23, for a 61% to 38.7% percentage on the night.  Pekka Rinne was not that busy in goal, but a fluke bounce of the puck at 7:16 of the first period gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead.  Michael Grabner scored the marker. 

Arizona took a 2-0 lead at 4:09 of the second period on Jason Demers snapshot that beat Rinne on the high side.

It wasn’t until the 12:09 of the third period that the Predators got on the board.  Nick Bonino slipped a shot between the legs of Kuemper for the lone goal of the night for Nashville.  

Nashville pulled their goalie with just under two minutes remaining in the contest, but couldn’t get the game tying goal.  The frustration on the faces of the Predators was evident at the final horn.  

The Predators announced on Wednesday that Arvidsson would be out of the lineup until 2019 from a broken thumb suffered during the Dallas Stars game last weekend.  It’s a blow to the team, as Arvidsson was a key member of Nashville’s first line of Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg.

Subban left during the first period of Tuesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks and never returned.  It was announced that he would be on the injured reserve list, but no confirmation as to the injury.

The Predators return to the friendly confines of the Bridgestone Arena Saturday night to face the L.A Kings.  Puck drops at 7:00pm.

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