Josi has goal, two assists for Predators in win against Coyotes

NASHVILLE-- Roman Josi scored a goal and had two assists for the Nashville Predators in a 5-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Craig Smith, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Ellis and Calle Jarnkrok scored for the Predators (32-19-4), who are 4-1-0 in their past five games.
"I thought we had some pretty good chances," Josi said. "I mean, they're a good team. They're fast, they play hard, and we knew we had to play better than what we did in the first. I thought it was a great reaction in the second period in getting some goals, too."
WATCH: [All Coyotes vs. Predators highlights]
Vinnie Hinostroza and Derek Stepan scored for the Coyotes (23-25-5), who are 0-3-1 in their past four games.
"We knew it was going to be a tough trip with the travel and all of that stuff, but a winnable game in San Jose, winnable game in Dallas," Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. "Obviously we didn't deserve to win the game [against Nashville], but these are the types of games that if you snuck that goal, maybe you get a point."
Hinostroza gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead at 16:59 of the first period on a shot from the slot. He got to a loose puck in the slot and beat Predators goalie Pekka Rinne.
Smith tied it 1-1 at 2:58 of the second period when he scored on the rebound of Mattias Ekholm's shot from the point.

Forsberg gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 7:45 of the second period on the power play. He received a pass from Josi and scored from the top of the right face-off circle.
The Predators had not scored on their previous 34 power-play opportunities prior to Forsberg's goal.
"I mean, obviously we've been having a lot of good looks lately, but at the end of the day it's about scoring goals," Forsberg said. "We were fortunate enough to do that tonight, and I think we played well enough to have a couple more on the power play as well but we'll take one for tonight."
Ellis made it 3-1 at 13:37 of the second period on a rebound in front of the net. Frederick Gaudreau took the initial shot, and Ellis scored on the rebound.
"It was just the way the play worked out," Ellis said. "I had to fill a lane for [Hartman] to make that pass, and he made a terrific pass and [Gaudreau], great shot. Fortunately for me the rebound was there."

Stepan scored for the Coyotes to make it 3-2 at 4:19 of the third period on a wraparound on his backhand.
Jarnkrok gave the Predators a 4-2 lead at 13:41 on a pass from Colton Sissons.
Josi scored an empty-net goal at 17:10 to make it 5-2.

They said it

"Yeah, but if you're squeezing the stick, then somebody just get it, one or two passes, get it in front and shoot it. That's the best way to simplify a power play. We're going to have to switch some units around because it's killing us. We actually hung right back in there. That's a good hockey club. In the second period, they were coming on us, and when we got it 3-2, we obviously gave them back that fourth goal." -- Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet on their struggles on the power play
"We didn't play that well in the first, to be honest, but after that I thought we played better. The second period was a good period. We scored a few goals there, and it set us up for the third. We need to play more like that, especially in the first, but going forward as well." -- Predators forward Filip Forsberg

Need to know

Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski had an assist, a hit, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in 20:14. He left in the second period of a 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday under the NHL concussion protocol after he was boarded by Dallas forward Brett Ritchie. … Predators forward Kyle Turris practiced Monday and participated in an optional morning skate Tuesday. He has missed the past 17 games with a lower-body injury.

What's next

Coyotes: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-A, NHL.TV)
Predators: Host the Dallas Stars on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-TN, NHL.TV)