Crouse scores 2 goals as Coyotes rally past Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lawson Crouse scored his second goal at 4:20 of the third period, and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Monday night to snap a two-game road skid.

Crouse nearly had a hat trick but missed an empty net wide with 1:11 left. Christian Fischer didn’t miss with 52.9 remaining.

Nick Schmaltz also scored a goal as the Coyotes capped their three-game road swing with a regulation win after back-to-back overtime losses. Matias Maccelli, J.J. Moser and Clayton Keller each had two assists.

Goalie Karel Vejmelka, a Predators’ fifth-round draft pick in 2015, made 29 saves for the win. Arizona now is 3-0-3 without a regulation loss over the past six games.

Captain Roman Josi and Colton Sissons scored a goal apiece as Nashville started a three-game home stand with their second loss in three games since the All-star Game break.

The Coyotes improved to 7-20-6 on the road despite being outshot 10-2 in the second period. Crouse not only tied it up at 2 with Arizona’s only power play of the game, it was the Coyotes’

first shot of the period. Keller hit off the crossbar with 36.4 seconds left for their other shot.

Then Arizona opened the third taking five of the first seven shots, including Crouse’s game-winner. Maccelli passed a backhander from near the boards to Crouse for his 19th goal.

The Predators had a fifth and final power play when Crouse went to the box for putting the puck over the glass for delay of the game with 4:36 remaining. Coach John Hynes took his timeout with 51 seconds left

on the man advantage, not that it helped as Nashville went 1-of-5 on the power play.

Nashville honored P.K. Subban before the game as the three-time All-star defenseman handled the ceremonial puck drop.

Subban announced his retirement in September after 13 NHL seasons. The 2013 Norris Trophy winner helped Nashville reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and played all 82 games in winning the 2018 Presidents’ Trophy.

Nashville outshot Arizona 11-8 in the first period.

But Predators forward Nino Niederreiter turned it over. Schmaltz quickly took advantage with his 14th goal this season and third in as many games, a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Keller for a 1-0 lead with 2:45 left in the first period. Schmaltz has seven points in three games.

MIA

Nashville played without second-leading scorer Filip Forsberg as he missed his first game since going down in the first period of their 2-1 overtime win in Philadelphia on Saturday. He’s listed as day to day with an upper-body injury after being checked into

the boards.

Nashville coach Hynes said earlier Monday the injury might not be as serious as it first appeared. Philip Tomasino was called up from AHL Milwaukee and replaced Forsberg on the top line with Ryan Johansen and Mikael Granlund.

Arizona played its second game with defenseman Jakob Chychrun a healthy scratch for “trade related reasons.”