Josi has 2 goals, assist in Predators win against Coyotes

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Roman Josi had two goals and an assist for the Nashville Predators in a 6-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on Sunday.

Tommy Novak and Matt Duchene each had a goal and two assists, Yakov Trenin and Cody Glass each had a goal and an assist, and Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (29-22-6), who have won three in a row and four of their past five games.
"That [win] was huge. We're still fighting here. We still believe that we can make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs," Duchene said. "Hopefully we don't lose many more guys."

Forward Tanner Jeannot did not play due to trade-related reasons and was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks following the game. Juuso Parssinen, who was also a late scratch, is day to day with an upper-body injury.
"A big thing we talked about is just trying to make sure that we can control we can control," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "You can't do anything about the decisions that get made, but what we can do is try to have a strong focus level."
The Predators played with 10 forwards and seven defensemen.
"It was [a] tough game for the forwards," Josi said. "There's so much skating for them but they did an amazing job and battled hard and played hard. I'm very proud of this team."
Nick Schmaltz scored in his third consecutive game and had an assist, and Connor Ingram made 28 saves for the Coyotes (20-30-9), who have lost two straight following a nine-game point streak (5-0-4).
"We said it before the game, we've got to get pucks behind them," Arizona defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "I think we did it for some points in that game, but we've got to stick with it for a full 60 [minutes]."
Gostisbehere gave Arizona a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the first period, scoring a short-handed goal on a partial breakaway off a give-and-go with Schmaltz.
Trenin tied it 1-1 at 9:02. With Ingram out of position following a save near the left post on Philip Tomasino, Trenin had his rebound attempt go in off the skate of Coyotes defenseman Troy Stecher.
Duchene gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 13:48, scoring off Ingram on a one-timer from the goal line off a backhand pass by Glass.
Josi extended it to 3-1 at 2:39 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle before Schmaltz cut it to 3-2 at 7:27, scoring on a wrist shot from the slot.

Novak responded for Nashville to make it 4-2 at 3:28 of the third period when he jammed in a loose puck near the left post after the rebound by Mikael Granlund squeaked through Ingram.
Novak has 11 points (five goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak.
"I'm playing more, getting more puck touches," Novak said. "My confidence keeps going up … and we're finishing right now."
Josi made it 5-2 at 6:02 on a power play, scoring with a one-timer after receiving a no-look backhand pass by Novak from the left circle. Glass then scored from the right circle on another power play at 18:17 for the 6-2 final.
Nashville was 2-for-3 with the man-advantage. Arizona was 0-for-5.
"We had a tough time creating [offense], had a tough time getting inside, and our power play didn't create enough," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. "The special teams made a difference."

Nashville was playing its first game without forward Nino Niederreiter, who was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Earlier Sunday, the team announced David Poile, who has been the Predators' general manager since July 9, 1997, will retire on June 30.
"It's been a really tough last 24 hours plus, that's for sure," Duchene said. "The win feels good, but I don't remember playing a game with my heart in my throat quite like that."
Duchene, who has played 961 NHL games, said it was the first time starting a game with only nine other forwards.
"I think the last time I played with 10 was high school hockey," he said.
NOTES:Josi extended his point streak to five games (four goals, six assists). … Gostisbehere has 300 points (84 goals, 216 assists) in 514 NHL games. … It was Duchene's second straight three-point game. ... Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse played his 400th NHL game. … Defenseman Jakob Chychrun sat out his seventh consecutive game for Arizona, which is exploring trade possibilities. He hasn't played since Feb. 10. … Nashville forward Zach Sanford had one shot on goal and three hits in 15:35 of ice time after being recalled earlier Sunday from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.