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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Rinne returns to form, lifts Preds past Coyotes

By: Chris Talbott

Posted: 05/3/2012 3:19 AM | Comments: 0

NASHVILLE -- Pekka Rinne made 32 saves as he returned to his dominating form, Mike Fisher scored his first goal of these playoffs, and the Nashville Predators found their rhythm with a 2-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series.

After giving up nine goals on the road as the Predators fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven matchup, Rinne was rarely challenged by the lacklustre Coyotes. He helped the Predators overcome the team suspensions of forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn.

Phoenix still leads 2-1 in the series that will continue with Game 4 in Music City on Friday.

David Legwand and Fisher capitalized on mistakes and scored 66 seconds apart midway through the first period. Rinne, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy given to the NHL's top goalie, made the goals stand up.

Though Phoenix outshot Nashville early, Rinne wasn't tested much. He had a shot go off the post in the first period and saw heavier traffic in the crease as the Coyotes shook off a sluggish start. He never faltered after giving up five goals in Sunday's 5-3 Game 2 loss -- the Predators' worst performance of the post-season.

Phoenix had its team-record streak of three consecutive road playoff wins and a run of three straight wins in Nashville overall snapped. The Coyotes had given up just four goals on the road in the playoffs coming into Wednesday.

The change of venue seemed to energize Rinne and the Predators. With Charlie Daniels laying down a scorching version of "Devil Went Down to Georgia" and fans tossing catfish on the ice, Nashville got back into the "hockey tonkin"' vibe that lifted them to a milestone series victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.

Legwand brought out the catfish midway through the first period when he capitalized on goalie Mike Smith's mistake as he cleared the puck behind the net. Gabriel Bourque beat a defender to the puck in the left corner and centred a pass to Legwand, who wristed the puck past Smith at 8:10.

Without Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, who were suspended for violating unspecified team rules, Nashville figured to lose some offensive power, but the defence more than made up for it.

Rinne finished off the game by turning away several shots during a tense 41 seconds of 5-on-3 hockey late in the third period after penalties on Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn.

NOTES: It is unclear when Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn will return. Predators coach Barry Trotz said he might keep the same lineup for Game 4.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 3, 2012 C3

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