In a game you heard on Thunder Radio, The Nashville Predators opened up a 4-0 lead on the Arizona Coyotes and claimed a 4-2 victory in Game 2 to even their best-of-five series at 1-1. The Preds will have fewer than 24 hours to relish their Tuesday afternoon victory, as they’ll be right back on the ice for Game 3 on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. CT (Watch: FOX Sports Tennessee, NHL Network; Listen: 102.5 The Game).
After surrendering three goals in the opening period in Game 1, the Predators stressed a better start in Game 2, and they got it thanks to impressive goaltending from Juuse Saros and a pair of tallies in the first 20 minutes.
That momentum carried the Preds through the afternoon, and even though they surrendered two goals late in the contest, the victory was the most important thing to come out of Tuesday’s effort.
“It was nice to get out there, get the lead today and build our team game from there,” Preds center Ryan Johansen said. “Nick [Bonino] gave our team a boost with his first goal tonight, and it seemed like we really found our game. We played a solid, solid game.”
“We talked a lot to our team about mental toughness, focus and really taking the lessons out of the last game,” Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. “The focus level for us was good, and the things that we talked about, the players really executed. Our competitive level and commitment level in certain areas was better than it was in Game 1, so we need to make sure we continue that going into Game 3.”
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Qualifier series between the Predators and Coyotes comes Wednesday afternoon, at 1:30 p.m. CT from Edmonton
Continue reading about the game 2 victory here.
