Coyotes stop Predators’ franchise-best points streak at 18 games

TEMPE, Ariz. — (*18*) had his first NHL hat trick, Clayton Keller added a aim and three assists, and the Arizona Coyotes snapped the Nashville Predators‘ level streak at 18 games with an 8-4 victory Thursday evening.

Nashville had been 16-0-2 since its final loss Feb. 15 at dwelling towards Dallas. It was the longest points streak in Predators historical past and the longest within the NHL this season.

Arizona overcame a two-goal deficit to win its second straight and went 3-0-1 towards the Predators this season. Connor Ingram made 30 saves for the Coyotes.

Cooley, a 19-year-old rookie, had the primary multigoal recreation of his profession and has 16 objectives for the season. He scored an empty-netter with 1:32 remaining to complete it off.

“We started off a little slow, but we found our game after that,” Cooley mentioned. “It’s a special moment. It’s always fun playing against the best guys in the league and the best teams. It brings out the best in all of us.”

Jack McBain, Nick Bjugstad, Nick Schmaltz and Matias Maccelli additionally scored for the Coyotes. Josh Doan had two assists after scoring twice in his NHL debut Tuesday evening.

After former Coyote Jason Zucker scored the primary two objectives of the sport for Nashville, McBain and Cooley tied it up within the first interval. Keller’s aim, his thirty first, got here on an influence play after Nashville was penalized for having too many males on the ice. Keller prolonged his points streak to seven games. He leads the Coyotes in objectives and assists (36).

“We knew what to expect from their offense, they’re really good at it,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny mentioned. “When we play solid defense, we have the skill to play offense. Speed in today’s game starts with the puck movement of your defense. That gives us space and gives us speed.”

Juuse Saros was pulled after two durations and 6 objectives allowed. He made 22 saves earlier than being changed by Kevin Lankinen. The Predators pulled him for a sixth attacker, however Maccelli scored into the empty web with 6:03 left to make it 7-3.

Gustav Nyquist and Filip Forsberg scored the opposite objectives for the Predators. Forsberg’s, his forty first, got here on an influence play.

“We made some uncharacteristic individual mistakes,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette mentioned. “They’ve got some skill and speed and we kind of put ourselves in a tough position.”

Zucker had 9 objectives in 51 games with Arizona when he was traded to the Predators on March 8 for a sixth-round draft decide. He has 13 for the season.